In Vitro Cancer Research on Ancient Herbal Remedies: A Changing Trend.

ABSTRACT

Since cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for 13% of all deaths, there is a global demand for research to develop new treatments. In search of new cancer preventive and treatment agents, hundreds of plant extracts and compounds have been evaluated for their potential to inhibit cancer cells in vitro, many of which have been used for centuries by native populations from specific geographic regions around the world. Some ancient remedies have now been shown to inhibit the proliferation of specific cancer cells by having a desirable effect at the molecular level. More recently, the number of in vitro gene studies to understand the effects of these herbal medicines on various forms of cancers has increased due to the advancement in molecular techniques. Improved research methods and increased knowledge of the effects of plant extracts on cancer genes is allowing individualistic diagnoses, prognoses, and treatments.