Cancer is one of deadliest disease on the world caused by cells grow out of control and crowd out normal cells. Some research result report that cancer can be prevented and be treated very well for many people. In fact, more people than ever before lead full lives after cancer treatment. Here, we will describe 15 herbs which can prevent cancer cell grow.
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1. Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)
The medicinal properties of Marigold derive principally from several aspects of its biochemical products. In a 2008 paper by Pintea, et al., Calendula contain the list of carotenoids included flavoxanthin, lutein, rubixanthin, β-carotene, β-calendic acids, γ-carotene, and lycopene. The β-calendic acids could reduce the viability, and sometimes caused the self-destruction of a widely used line of human colon cancer cells.
2. Thunder God Vine (Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F.)
Thunder god vine is the English translation of the Chinese name for the perennial plant lei gong teng. The plant grows in the mountains of China, as well as Taiwan and Myanmar. Zi et al. (2011) report that Thunder God Vine contain celastrol, the natural compound extracted from the root bark of the Thunder God Vine, is a selective proteasome inhibitor with potent anticancer activity. The special chemical structure of celastrol, called aromatic ketone carbons, allows it to bind tightly to a specific amino acid of the proteasome, causing proteasome inhibition and therefore inducing cell death in cancer. Last Cancer Research report that celastrol inhibits the proteasome activity in both androgen receptor-negative and androgen receptor-positive prostate cancer cells. As a result, the levels of several natural tumor suppressor proteins increased, accompanied by suppression of androgen receptor protein expression (which is a cel death inhibitor) and induction of cell death.
3. Indian Strawbery (Duchesnea indica)
Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke has been traditionally used to treat cancer in Asian countries for centuries. In the present study by Bo et al. (2012), transplanted U14 cervical cancer mouse model was used to evaluate the antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of Duchesnea phenolic fraction (DPF). ELISA and RIA assay were employed to measured the serum concentration of Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α). Administration with 0.25 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg DPF significantly reduced the tumor weight by 34.37%, 43.89% and 56.28%, respectively, as compared to the tumor control group. These data suggested that DPF, a mixture of plant polyphenols, had potent anticancer activity which was in part accomplished by its immunomodulatory ability.
4. Asparagus (Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr.)
Asparagus belonging to Liliaceae family. Asparagus health benefits has shown great promise in the fight against breast, colon, lung, prostate, ovarian and other cancers. Research by Son et al. (2013) about five compounds isolated from the methanol extract of A. cochinchinensis tuber were identified with their structures including quercetin, asparagine, sucrose, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and β-sitosterol. Quercetin has been proven to be a potent component in antioxidant and anticancer against all four selected human cancer cell lines, MCF-7, Hep-G2, NCI-H460 and HeLa cells. These findings reveal that A. cochinchinensis can be considered to be a potent medicinal plant in therapy of certain cancer.
5. Quaker buttons (Strychnos nux-vomica)
Strychnos nux-vomica is the name of an evergreen tree native to southeast Asia. Its dried seeds or beans, and sometimes its bark (called nux vomica) are used in herbal remedies. Strychnos nux-vomica contain specific chemical compound call Strychnine. Strychnine is a poison so only use in little dosage. Strychnos nux-vomica is very recommended for liver cancer.
6. Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a vegetable used for flavoring in cooking and is unique because of its high sulfur content. In addition to sulfur, garlic also contains arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and selenium, all of which may be beneficial to health. Several population studies show an association between increased intake of garlic and reduced risk of certain cancers, including cancers of the stomach, colon, esophagus, pancreas, and breast. Research by Gonzales et al. (2006) from The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is an ongoing multinational study involving men and women from 10 different countries. This study is investigating the effects of nutrition on cancer. In the study, higher intakes of onion and garlic were associated with a reduced risk of intestinal cancer. After considering total calorie intake and other established risk factors, breast cancer risk was reduced in those consuming greater amounts of fiber, garlic, and onions
7. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)
Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. Broccoli also contains the phytonutrient sulfuraphane and selenium. Report from Finley et al. (2001) Selenium from high-Se broccoli reduces colon cancer. Also, the sprout form of broccoli contains many secondary plant compounds that are known to reduce cancer risk, but the anticarcinogenic activity of broccoli sprouts has not been investigated. The present studies examined the ability of high-Se broccoli or high-Se broccoli sprouts to protect against chemically induced mammary or colon cancer.
8. Blackberry- Lily (Belamcanda chinensis)
Blackberry- Lily is an erect and tufted perennial herb with a thick creeping rootstock, growing to a height of 0.5 to 1.5 meters. Leaves are 2-ranked, strongly imbricated, narrow lanceolate, sword-shaped, 40 to 60 centimeters long, 2.5 to 4 centimeters wide, and overlapping at the base. Three new compounds were identified– belalloside A, belalloside B and belamphenone along with other compounds resveratrol, iriflophenone, irisflorentine, tectoridin, among the 13 others. Results showed two isolates to have proliferation stimulatory activity against human breast cancer cell lines. Other Study by Morrissey et al. (2004) demonstrated a role for tectorigenin and irigenin from extract Belamcanda chinensis in regulating the number of prostate cancer cells by inhibition of proliferation through cell cycle regulation.
9. Sun Flower (Helianthus annuus)
Sun flower contain some chemical compound in seed and flower. Seed considered diuretic and expectorant. Seeds and flowers considered febrifuge and stomachic. It also considered as aphrodisiac, emollient, anti-malarial and anti-cancer. Study by Giada and Filho (2009) showed high antioxidant capacity in the aqueous extract of the sunflower seed suggests a potential for preventing in vivo oxidative reactions involved in diseases, such as cancer.
10. Java Brucea (Brucea amarissima (Lour.) Merr.)
Phytochemical screening from java brucea yielded flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes, steroids, anthraquinones, anthrones, flavonoids glycosides, and coumarins. It also Contains quassinoid triterpenes, including bruceatin, bruceantinol, bruceantinoside a, bruceins A-G and Q, bruceolide, bruceosides, and dihydrobrucein A. Study by Kim et al. (2010) identified nuclear factor kappaB (NF-xB) inhibitors exhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) intracellular amplification. Bruceajavanone B, bruceantin, bruceine A, (-)-hydnocarpin, and chrysoeriol exhibited cytotoxic potential and NF-kB p65 inhibition. Chrysoeriol exhibited selective cytotoxicity against leukemia cells and potentiates the amplification of ROS levels, and can serve as a potential chemotherapeutic modifier for leukemia chemotherapy.
11. Ashitaba/ Tomorrow's Leaf (Angelica keiskei (Miq.) Koidz)
Ashitaba is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing to a height of 50 to 120 centimeters. Roots are stout, conic, or cylindric. Seven compounds chemical such as 1-cerotol, daucosterol, stigmasterol, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranside, luteolin-7-rhamno-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-α-D-glucpyranoside and steviol-l3-O-β-glucopyranoside 19-β-glucopyranosyl ester octaacetate. Study by Steinthor et al. (2005) evaluated a leaf extract of A. archangelica on growth of Crl mouse breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Results showed antiproliferative activity in vitro and antitumor activity in vivo. The antiproliferative activity could not be attributed to xanthotoxin or furanocoumarins alone. Flavanoids and polysaccharides present in the leaves might have contributed to the antitumor activity.
12. Frangipani (Plumeria acuminata W. T. Ait.)
Bark of frangipani contains a bitter glucoside, plumierid (2%). Kardono et al. (1990) report that in Indonesia, six cytotoxic constituents were isolated from the bark. The substances demonstrated cytotoxic activity with panel of murine lymphocytic leukemia cell lines and a number of human cancer cell-types (breast, colon, fibrosarcoma, lung, and melanoma).
13. Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides Ellis)
Study of chemical constituents in fruits isolated nine compounds, such as imperatorin, isoimperatorin, crocetin, 5-hydroxy-7,3',4',5'-tetrainethoxyflavone, 2-methyl-3,5-dihydroxychromone, sudan III, geniposide, crocin and crocin-3. Study investigated the effects of Gardenia jasminoides extract and its constituents, ursolic acid and genipin on gastritis in rats and the growth of human gastric cancer cells. Results showed acid-neutralizing capacities, antioxidant activities, and inhibitory effects on H. pyloric growth. Also, there was cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer cells (Lee et al. 2009).
14. Jewelweed (Impatiens balsamina Linn)
Study isolated a natural bisnaphthoquinone, methylene-3,3'-bilawsone from the root cultures, along with lawsone, 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthquinone, scopoletin, isofraxidin and a sterol, spinasterol. Baskar et al. (2012) report an ethanol extract was investigated for anticancer and in-vitro cytotoxic activities against transplantable tumors and human cell line. Results showed significant antitumor and cytotoxic effects against DLA and human Cancer Cell line.
15. Sappan Wood (Caesalpinia sappan Linn.)
Study yield a principle resembling haematein. Resinous extract yields a crystalline principle, which when fused with potash, yields resorcin. Besides brazilin, additional constituents include gallic and tannic acids. Study showed C. sappan aqueous extract inhibited growth of human ovarian cancer cell line and induce apoptosis by increasing expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and decrease expression of surviving.
REFERENCES
Anticancer Studies on Ethanol Extract of Impatiens balsamina / N Baskar, B Parimala Devi, B. Jayakar / IJRAP 3(4), Jul-Aug 2012: 631-633.
Antioxidant Activity In Vitro of Three Constituents from Caesalpinia sappan L / Jun Hua, Xiaoling Yana, Wei Wan et al / Tsinghua Science & Technology, Volume 13, Issue 4, August 2008, Pages 474-479 / doi:10.1016/S1007-0214(08)70076-2.
Antioxidant capacity of the striped sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed extracts evaluated by three in vitro methods / Maria D L R Giada and Jorge Mancini-Filho / Summary International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition • 2009, Vol. 60, No. 5, Pages 395-401 / DOI 10.1080/09637480701755262
Antitumour Activity of Angelica archangelica Leaf Extract / Steinthor Sigurdsson, Helga M. Ögmundsdottir, Jonas Hallgrimsson and Sigmundur Gudbjarnason / In Vivo 19: 191-194 (2005).
B. Peng, Q. Hu, L. Sun, X. Liu, J. Li, Q. Chang, L. Wang and J. Tang, "Duchesnea Phenolic Fraction Inhibits Tumor Growth through Restoring the Th1/Th2 Balance in U14 Cervical Cancer Bearing Mice," Chinese Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 1, 2012, pp. 42-45. doi: 10.4236/cm.2012.31007.
Cytotoxic constituents of the bark of Plumeria rubra collected in Indonesia / Leonardus B. S. Kardono, Soefjan Tsauri, Kosasih Padmawinata, John M. Pezzuto, A. Douglas Kinghorn / J. Nat. Prod., 1990, 53 (6), pp 1447–1455 / DOI: 10.1021/np50072a008.
Gardenia jasminoides Ellis ethanol extract and its constituents reduce the risks of gastritis and reverse gastric lesions in rats / Je-Hyuk Lee, Dong-Ung Lee, Choon-Sik Jeong / Food and Chemical Toxicology 47 (2009) 1127–1131.
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Hoang Le Son and Nguyen Phuc Anh. 2013. Phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities of quercetin from methanol extract of Asparagus cochinchinensis (LOUR.) Merr. Tuber. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 7(46): 3360-3366.
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NF-κB Inhibitors from Brucea javanica Exhibiting Intracellular Effects on Reactive Oxygen Species / Jeong-Ah Kim, Edward K. Lau et al / Anticancer Research 30: 3295-3300 (2010)
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Zi Liu , Liang Ma and Guang-Biao Zhou. The Main Anticancer Bullets of the Chinese Medicinal Herb, Thunder God Vine. Molecules 2011,16, 5283-5297.
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