Traditionally used Medicinal Plants as Alternative Source for Future Anticancer Drugs

Abstract

Cancer remains the second most deadly disease in the world with increasing incidence and mortality rate. The number of drug for its treatment is increasing and needs more new drugs due to development of resistivity.  Several plants were described in Ayurveda for its treatment which have not only therapeutic value, but they also enhanced the quality of life.   Several research have been done on these plants to treat cancer and some plant products have been marketed as anticancer drugs like Taxol, Vinblastine, Vincristine, etc. Many research works describe that the anticancer activity of medicinal plants is due to the presence of antioxidants in them. Actually, the medicinal plants are easily available, cheaper and possess no toxicity, as compared to the modern drugs. Thus, the various combinations of the active components of these plants after isolation and identification can be made and have to be further assessed for their synergistic effects. The progressing rate of cancer indicates an urgent need to search new potent and effective drugs from plant source. This article describes the medicinal plants used for cancer treatment in Ayurveda as source of future drugs.