Affiliation:
1. University of North Bengal, India
2. RK University, India
3. Saurashtra University, India
Abstract
For decades, natural products, particularly plant-derived secondary metabolites, have been used to treat various chronic conditions, including cancer. Although various medicines are available to treat different types of cancers, no drug is found to be fully efficient and safe as an anticancer therapy. But plants and plant-derived products are effective and secure in treating various cancer. Different plants have been identified as potential anticancer agents like Camellia sinensis, Catharanthus roseus, Curcuma longa, Datura metel, Embelia ribes, Matricaria chamomilla, Momordica charantia, Nelumbo nucifera, Ocimum sanctum, etc. Besides, several plant-derived anticancer compounds that work effectively against various cancers have been isolated and characterised, like Taxol, camptothecin, and vinblastine. The present chapter focuses on the anticancer application of different medicinal plants and their phytochemicals. In addition, different treatments and modes of action of various phytochemicals have been discussed.