The Organic Life According to Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anticancer Approaches

Page: [692 - 697] Pages: 6

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Abstract

The aim of this review was to summarize the most important traditional medinical herbs and plants that are being used in different parts of the world with a focus on a green anticancer approach. The most important impacts of medicinal plants on cancer treatments are prevention of cancer occurrence, decreased side effects, ameliorated post-operative complications, reduced post operative recurrence, reduced tumor growth, maintenance therapy, reduced symptoms and prolonged survival. Alkaloid anti-cancer compounds are pyrrolidine, pyridine, tropane, piperidine, pyrrolizidine, quinolizidine, indolizidine, isoquinoline, oxazole, isoxazole, quinazoline, quinoline, indole serine, purine, β-phenylethylamine, colchicine, benzylamine, abornin, pancratistatin and narciclasine. Anticancer phenolic compounds from plants are flavonol, flavones, kaempferol, luteolin, curcumin, apigenin, chalcone, and cafestol. Anticancer terpenoids compounds from medicinal plants are isoprene, alpha-hederin, galanal A, galanal B, carnosol, oleanane and xanthorrhizol. The most important chemical structures of anti-cancer drugs derived from plants are vincristine, vinblastine, vinorelbine, vindesine, vinflunine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, larotaxel, milataxel, ortataxel, tesetaxel, camptothecin, irinotecan, topotecan, etoposide, teniposide, harringtonine and homoharringtonine. Cancer is one of the main and primary causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. It is a broad group of various diseases typified by unregulated cell growth. The role of plants, especially traditional herbs as a source of organic medicines has been prevalent in many societies, especially in Eastern medicinal science for thousands of years. Traditional medicinal herbs and plants which have both antiviral activity and the ability to promote immunity, would have possible inhibition ability in the initiation and promotion of virus-associated cancers. Medicinal plants should always be considered a great source of novel chemical constituents with anti-cancer effects.

Keywords: Traditional Chinese medicine, medicinal plants, green anticancer approach, plants, herbs, organic treatment.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Cragg GM, Newman DJ. Natural products: A continuing source of novel drug leads. Biochim Biophys Acta 2013; 1830(6): 3670-95.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.02.008] [PMID: 23428572]
[2]
Dossey AT. Insects and their chemical weaponry: New potential for drug discovery. Nat Prod Rep 2010; 27(12): 1737-57.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c005319h] [PMID: 20957283]
[3]
Gautam AK, Sharma D, Sharma J, Saini KC. Legume lectins: Potential use as a diagnostic and therapeutics against the cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2019.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.119] [PMID: 31593731]
[4]
Gordaliza M. Natural products as leads to anticancer drugs. Clin Transl Oncol 2007; 9(12): 767-76.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12094-007-0138-9] [PMID: 18158980]
[5]
Sawadogo WR, Schumacher M, Teiten MH, Dicato M, Diederich M. Traditional West African pharmacopeia, plants and derived compounds for cancer therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2012; 84(10): 1225-40.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2012.07.021] [PMID: 22846603]
[6]
Alonso-Castro AJ, Villarreal ML, Salazar-Olivo LA, Gomez-Sanchez M, Dominguez F, Garcia-Carranca A. Mexican medicinal plants used for cancer treatment: Pharmacological, phytochemical and ethnobotanical studies. J Ethnopharmacol 2011; 133(3): 945-72.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.055] [PMID: 21146599]
[7]
Jacobo-Herrera NJ, Jacobo-Herrera FE, Zentella-Dehesa A, Andrade-Cetto A, Heinrich M, Pérez-Plasencia C. Medicinal plants used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of colorectal cancer. J Ethnopharmacol 2016; 179: 391-402.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.12.042] [PMID: 26721221]
[8]
Solecki RS. Shanidar IV, a Neanderthal flower burial in northern Iraq. Science 1975; 190(4217): 880-1.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.190.4217.880]
[9]
Liu J, Wang S, Zhang Y, Fan HT, Lin HS. Traditional Chinese medicine and cancer: History, present situation, and development. Thorac Cancer 2015; 6(5): 561-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.12270] [PMID: 26445604]
[10]
Fan XX, Pan HD, Li Y, Guo RJ, Leung ELH, Liu L. Novel therapeutic strategy for cancer and autoimmune conditions: Modulating cell metabolism and redox capacity. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 191: 148-61.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.06.010] [PMID: 29953901]
[11]
Huang CH, Chang HP, Su SY, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine is associated with a decreased risk of heart failure in breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin treatment. J Ethnopharmacol 2019; 229: 15-21.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.09.030] [PMID: 30261193]
[12]
Iqbal J, Abbasi AB, Mahmood T, et al. Plant-derived anticancer agents: A green anticancer approach. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2017; 7(12): 1129-50.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2017.10.016]
[13]
Ijaz S, Akhtar N, Khan MS, et al. Plant derived anticancer agents: A green approach towards skin cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 103: 1643-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.113] [PMID: 29864953]
[14]
Lee JW, Lee WB, Kim W, Min BI, Lee H, Cho SH. Traditional herbal medicine for cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med 2015; 23(2): 265-74.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2015.02.003] [PMID: 25847565]
[15]
Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Cheng Q. A review of astragalus species as foodstuffs, dietary supplements, a traditional Chinese medicine and a part of modern pharmaceutical science. Appl Ecol Environ Res 2019; 17(6): 13371-82.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1706_1337113382]
[16]
Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Cheng Q. Pomegranate, fruit of the desert, a functional food, and a healthy diet. Not Sci Biol 2021; 13(3): 11085.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.15835/nsb13311085]
[17]
Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q. Anise (Pimpinella anisum l.), a dominant spice and traditional medicinal herb for both food and medicinal purposes. Cogent Biol 2019; 5(1673688): 1-25.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23312025.2019.1673688]
[18]
Tian T, Chen C, Yang F, et al. Establishment of apoptotic regulatory network for genetic markers of colorectal cancer and optimal selection of traditional Chinese medicine target. Saudi J Biol Sci 2017; 24(3): 634-43.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.01.036] [PMID: 28386190]
[19]
Xu YJJ, Mao L, Sun L, et al. Association between use of traditional Chinese medicine herbal therapy and survival outcomes in patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer: A multicenter prospective cohort study. J Natl Cancer Inst 2017; 52: lgx015.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgx015]
[20]
So T-H, Chan S-K, Lee V-H-F, Chen B-Z, Kong F-M, Lao L-X. Chinese medicine in cancer treatment- How is it practised in the East and the West? Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2019; 31(8): 578-88.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clon.2019.05.016] [PMID: 31178347]
[21]
Lee S, Han S, Park JS, et al. Herb mixture C5E aggravates doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of human breast cancer cell lines. J Korean Soc Appl Bl 2013; 56(5): 567-73.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13765-013-3195-5]
[22]
Al Sawah E, Marchion DC, Xiong Y, et al. The Chinese herb polyphyllin D sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin-induced growth arrest. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2015; 141(2): 237-42.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00432-014-1797-x] [PMID: 25164128]
[23]
Chien TJ, Liu CY, Lu RH, Kuo CW, Lin YC, Hsu CH. Therapeutic efficacy of Traditional Chinese medicine, “Kuan-Sin-Yin”, in patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced colon cancer - A controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2016; 29: 204-12.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.001] [PMID: 27912948]
[24]
Wang Y, Zhang Q, Chen Y, et al. Antitumor effects of immunity-enhancing traditional Chinese medicine. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 121: 109570.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109570] [PMID: 31710893]
[25]
Mi ML, Hui CK, Zakaria NS. HM. Use of Chinese herbal medicine and health-related quality of life among cancer patients in Johor, Malaysia. Malays J Nutr 2017; 23(2): 227-38.
[26]
Sun RS. Cutaneous carcinoma treatments by topical Chinese herbal medicine. Appl Sci Res 2016; 16(3): 127-31.
[27]
Liu W, Wu TC, Hong DM, et al. Carnosic acid enhances the anti-lung cancer effect of cisplating by inhibiting myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Chinese J Nat Medicines 2018; 16(12): 0907-15.
[28]
Sagar SM, Wong RK. Chinese medicine and biomodulation in cancer patients-Part two. Curr Oncol 2008; 15(2): 9-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3747/co.v15i2.238]
[29]
Chan KKL, Yao TJ, Jones B, et al. The use of Chinese herbal medicine to improve quality of life in women undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial with immunological monitoring. Ann Oncol 2011; 22(10): 2241-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdq749] [PMID: 21355071]
[30]
Lin YJ, Liang WM, Chen CJ, et al. Network analysis and mechanisms of action of Chinese herb-related natural compounds in lung cancer cells. Phytomedicine 2019; 58(152893): 152893.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152893] [PMID: 30901663]
[31]
Wang H, Tao L, Ni T, et al. Anticancer efficacy of the ethyl acetate extract from the traditional Chinese medicine herb Celastrus orbiculatus against human gastric cancer. J Ethnopharmacol 2017; 205: 147-57.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.04.030] [PMID: 28476678]
[32]
Wei XC, Zhu LQ, Wang H, Wang CG, Deng Q, Li X. Efficacy of traditional Chinese medicines in preventing oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in cancer patients: A network meta-analysis. Chin Herb Med 2017; 9(2): 161-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1674-6384(17)60090-X]
[33]
Lo LC, Chen CY, Chen ST, Chen HC, Lee TC, Chang CS. Therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, Shen-Mai San, in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy: Study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Trials 2012; 13(232): 232.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-13-232] [PMID: 23206440]
[34]
Wu J, Wang J, Su Q, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine Astragalus polysaccharide enhanced antitumor effects of the angiogenesis inhibitor apatinib in pancreatic cancer cells on proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis. OncoTargets Ther 2018; 11: 2685-98.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S157129] [PMID: 29785118]
[35]
Zhang X, Shan S, Li H, Shi J, Lu Y, Li Z. Cloning, expression of the truncation of recombinant peroxidase derived from millet bran and its reversal effects on 5-Fu resistance in colorectal cancer. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 132: 871-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.111] [PMID: 30902718]
[36]
He L, Rong X, Jiang JM, Liu PQ, Li Y. Amelioration of anti-cancer agent adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats by Wulingsan (Gorei-San), a blended traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Food Chem Toxicol 2008; 46(5): 1452-60.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2007.12.005] [PMID: 18215452]
[37]
Wang Z, Lin S, Wang D, Huang L. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activities of traditional Chinese medicine for cancer treatment. Eur J Integr Med 2014; 6(5): 565-70.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2014.05.006]
[38]
Zhao J, Deng Y, Li SP. Advances analysis of polysaccharides, novel functional components in food and medicine dual purposes Chinese herbs. Trends Analyt Chem 2017; 96: 138-50.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2017.06.006]
[39]
Wan LQ, Yan T, Miao J, Qian H. The prognostic impact of traditional Chinese medicine monomers on tumor-associated macrophages in non-small cell lung cancer. Chin J Nat Medicines 2019; 17(10): 0729-37.
[40]
De U, Son JY, Jeon Y, et al. Plumbagin from a tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes alata Blanco) induces apoptotic cell death via a p53-dependent pathway in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 123: 492-500.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2018.11.040] [PMID: 30458268]
[41]
Wu CT, Tsai YT, Lai JN. Demographic and medication characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine users among colorectal cancer survivors: A nationwide database study in Taiwan. J Tradit Complement Med 2016; 7(2): 188-94.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.07.001] [PMID: 28417089]
[42]
Li W, Li C, Zheng H, Chen G, Hua B. Therapeutic targets of Traditional Chinese Medicine for colorectal cancer. J Tradit Chin Med 2016; 36(2): 243-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6272(16)30034-6] [PMID: 27400481]
[43]
Wang X, Fang G, Pang Y. Chinese medicines in the treatment of prostate cancer: From formulas to extracts and compounds. Nutrients 2018; 10(3): E283.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10030283] [PMID: 29495626]
[44]
Kuruppu AI, Paranagama P, Goonasekara CL. Medicinal plants commonly used against cancer in traditional medicine formulae in Sri Lanka. Saudi Pharm J 2019; 27(4): 565-73.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsps.2019.02.004] [PMID: 31061626]
[45]
Tao J, Li Y, Li S, Li HB. Plant foods for the prevention and management of colon cancer. J Funct Foods 2018; 42: 95-110.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.12.064]
[46]
Gao X, Wang Y, Li Y, et al. Huganpian, a traditional chinese medicine, inhibits liver cancer growth in vitro and in vivo by inducing autophagy and cell cycle arrest. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 120(109469): 109469.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109469] [PMID: 31698319]
[47]
Yu JH, Zhai HJ, Yu ZP, et al. Methyl 2-naphthoates from a traditional Chinese herb Morina officinalis var. officinalis. Tetrahedron 2019; 75(27): 3793-801.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2019.05.068]
[48]
Zhai B, Zhang N, Han X, et al. Molecular targets of β-elemene, a herbal extract used in traditional Chinese medicine, and its potential role in cancer therapy: A review. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 114(108812): 108812.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108812] [PMID: 30965237]
[49]
Cassileth BR, Deng G. Complementary and alternative therapies for cancer. Oncologist 2004; 9(1): 80-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.9-1-80] [PMID: 14755017]
[50]
Allam S, Katiyar D, Goel R, Vats A, Mittal A. Role of herbals in cancer management. J Phytopharmacol 2013; 2(6): 46-51.
[51]
Xu W, Xing FJ, Dong K, et al. Application of traditional Chinese medicine preparation in targeting drug delivery system. Drug Deliv 2015; 22(3): 258-65.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10717544.2014.892545] [PMID: 24611941]
[52]
Herman A, Herman AP. Mechanism of action of herbs and their active constituents used in hair loss treatment. Fitoterapia 2016; 114: 18-25.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2016.08.008] [PMID: 27552901]
[53]
Buyel JF. Plants as sources of natural and recombinant anti-cancer agents. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36(2): 506-20.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.02.002] [PMID: 29408560]
[54]
Oyenihi AB, Smith C. Are polyphenol antioxidants at the root of medicinal plant anti-cancer success? J Ethnopharmacol 2019; 229: 54-72.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2018.09.037] [PMID: 30287197]
[55]
Yaal-Hahoshen N, Maimon Y, Siegelmann-Danieli N, et al. A prospective, controlled study of the botanical compound mixture LCS101 for chemotherapy-induced hematological complications in breast cancer. Oncologist 2011; 16(9): 1197-202.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2011-0150] [PMID: 21712486]
[56]
Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Soleymani A, Cheng Q. Traditional herbal medicines to overcome stress, anxiety and improve mental health in outbreaks of human coronaviruses. Phytother Res 2020; 2020(1): 1-11.
[PMID: 33350538]
[57]
Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q. Natural dietary and medicinal plants with anti-obesity therapeutics activities for treatment and prevention of obesity during lock down and in post-COVID-19 eta. Appl Sci (Basel) 2021; 11(17): 7889.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app11177889]
[58]
Naghibi F, Khalaj A, Mosaddegh M, Malekmohamadi M, Hamzeloo-Moghadam M. Cytotoxic activity evaluation of some medicinal plants, selected from Iranian traditional medicine Pharmacopoeia to treat cancer and related disorders. J Ethnopharmacol 2014; 155(1): 230-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.025] [PMID: 24911336]
[59]
Shahrajabian MH, Sun W, Cheng Q. The importance of flavonoids and phytochemicals of medicinal plants with antiviral activities. Mini Rev Org Chem 2021; 18: 1-26.
[60]
Sun W, Shahrajabian MH, Cheng Q. Fenugreek cultivation with emphasis on historical aspects and its uses in traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical science. Mini Rev Med Chem 2021; 21(6): 724-30.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557520666201127104907] [PMID: 33245271]
[61]
Shahrajabian MH. Medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory activities for natural and organic healing. Curr Org Chem 2021; 25(23): 1-17.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1385272825666211110115656]