Aegle marmelos

Lupeol, isolated from Aegle marmelos, possesses strong anticancer activity against breast cancer, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma, malignant ascites and leukaemia. Aegle marmelos possesses significant antioxidant activity and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Aloe vera

Acemannan (a polysaccharide), isolated from Aloe vera, stimulates the immune system, accelerates wound healing and possess significant anticancer property. Emodin and Lectins isolated from Aloe vera exhibit strong anticancer and immunoenhancing activities. Aloe-emodin inhibits growth & spread of stomach cancer and various sarcomas by inducing apoptosis. Aloe-emodin has selective anticancer activity against neuroectodermal tumours (PNET). Alexin B isolated from Aloe vera possesses strong anticancer activity against leukaemia. Polysaccharides isolated from Aloe vera have strong immunoenhancing and anticancer properties. Aloe vera contains “super carbohydrates” that protect against many cancers, particularly the liver cancer. Aloe vera prevents genesis of cancer, regresses growth of cancer and prevents metastasis of cancer. Aloe vera stimulates immune system response of the body by activating macrophages and releasing cytokines such as interferon, interleukin and tumour necrosis factor. Aloe vera has an extraordinary antioxidant profile and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Alpinia galanga

Acetoxy-chavicol-acetate (ACA), isolated from Alpinia galanga, possesses significant anticancer activity against cancers of breast, lung, stomach, colon, prostate, multiple myeloma and leukaemia. Pinocembrin isolated from Alpinia galanga inhibits growth & spread in colon cancer by arresting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. Galangin, a flavonoid isolated from Alpinia galanga, possesses strong anticancer, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Galangin protects against breast and prostate cancers.

Amoora rohituka

Amooranin (a triterpene acid), isolated from Amoora rohituka inhibits growth & spread of breast and cervical cancers by arresting G2/M phase of the cell cycle and by inducing apoptosis. Amooranin and its derivatives are effective in both chemotherapy-sensitive and chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Amooranin has the ability to overcome (reverse) multidrug resistance in breast cancer, colon cancer and leukaemia.

Andrographis paniculata

Andrographolide, active diterpine component, isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has immunoenhancing and strong anticancer activity against cancers of breast, ovary, stomach, colon, prostate, kidney, nasopharynx malignant melanoma and leukaemia. Andrographolide exerts direct anticancer activity on cancer cells by arresting G0/G1 phase of cell-cycle and inducing apoptosis. Dichloromethane fraction of methanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata has strong anticancer activity against colon cancer. Andrographis paniculata possesses anticancer, immunostimulant, antioxidant, anti-HIV and anti-inflammatory properties. Andrographis paniculata enhances the activity of protective liver enzymes and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Azadirachta indica

Azadirachta indica contains about 40 different active principles, known as liminoids, which exhibit immunoenhancing, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimutagenic, anticancer and antimetastatic properties. Liminoids regress growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of breast, lung, stomach, prostate and skin. Nimbolide, a natural triterpenoid, isolated from Azadirachta indica leaves and flowers inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including colon cancer, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma and leukaemia by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death), a process that directs the body’s immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells. Nimbolide also prevents metastasis of cancer. Ethanolic extract of Azadirachta indica inhibits growth & spread of prostate cancer by inducing apoptosis and its antiandrogenic effect. Azadirachta indica reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Bauhinia variegata

Cyanidin glucoside, malvidin glucoside, peonidin glucoside and kaempferol galactoside isolated from Bauhinia variegata inhibit growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of breast, lung, liver, oral cavity, larynx and malignant ascites. Bauhinia variegata also possesses significant hepatoprotective activity.

Berberis vulgaris

Berberis vulgaris root contains berberine, berbamine, chelidonic acid, citric acid, columbamine, hydrastine, isotetrandrine, jacaranone, magnoflorine, oxycanthine and palmatine. Berberine (an isoquinoline alkaloid), possesses anticancer, immunoenhancing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Berberine arrests cancer cell cycle in G1-phase and induces apoptosis. Berberine possesses strong anticancer activity against prostate cancer, liver cancer and leukaemia. Berberine interferes with P-glycoprotein in chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Berberine also increases the penetration of some chemotherapy drugs through the blood-brain barrier, thereby enhancing their effect on intracranial tumours. Berberis vulgaris root bark contains three phenolic compounds, tyramine, cannabisin-G and lyoniresinol. Cannabisin-G and lyoniresinol exhibit strong antioxidant activity. Cannabisin-G  protects against breast cancer. Berberis vulgaris also inhibits growth of stomach and oral cavity cancers.

Catharanthus roseus

Catharanthus roseus (Vinca rosea, Madagascar periwinkle) contains more than 70 alkaloids, known as vinca alkaloids such as Vinblastine, Vincristine and their derivatives. Vinca alkaloids arrest cancer cell proliferation by binding to tubulin in the mitotic spindle. Vinca alkaloids also induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inhibit angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels). Vinca alkaloids inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of breast, ovary, cervix, lung, colon, rectum, testis, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin’s disease, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma, various sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma and leukaemia.

Curcuma longa

Curcumin (Di-feruloyl-methane) and curcuminoids isolated from Curcuma longa suppress cancer at every step, i.e. initiation, growth and metastasis. Curcumin arrests the cancer cells proliferation in G2/S phase and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death). It inhibits angiogenesis, a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of cancer. Curcumin  and Genistein (isolated from Glycine max) act synergistically to inhibit growth & spread of oestrogen-positive breast cancer. Curcumin works even in multidrug-resistant breast cancers. Curcumin suppresses adhesion of cancer cells, thus preventing metastasis. Curcumin inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including that of breast, lung, oesophagus, liver, colon, prostate, head & neck and skin. Curcumin is particularly effective in radiotherapy-resistant prostate cancer. Curcumin is effective even in advanced stages of cancer. Curcumin also protects from stomach cancer and colon cancer. Curcuma longa also possesses antimutagenic, antioxidant, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and radioprotective properties.

Emblica officinalis

Emblica officinalis contains ellagic acid, gallic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, emblicanin, flavonoids, glycosides and proanthocyanidins. Emblica officinalis is valued for its unique tannins and flavanoids, which possess powerful antioxidant and anticancer properties. Ellagic acid isolated from Emblica officinalis is a powerful antioxidant and has the ability to inhibit mutations in genes. Ellagic acid also repairs chromosomal abnormalities. Quercetin, isolated from Emblica officinalis has hepatoprotective effect. Emblicanin A & B (tannins) possess strong antioxidant and anticancer properties. Emblica officinalis inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, uterus, pancreas, stomach, liver and malignant ascites. Emblica officinalis is an excellent rejuvenator and antioxidant herb. It is highly nutritious and an important source of Vitamin C, minerals and amino acids. Emblica officinalis protects against many cancer particularly the liver cancer. Emblica officinalis reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Ginkgo biloba

Ginkgetin and Ginkgolides (A & B), isolated from Ginkgo biloba inhibits growth & spread of various aggressive cancers such as invasive oestrogen-receptor negative breast cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, hepatocellular carcinoma and cancers of ovary, colon, prostate and liver by inducing apoptosis. Ginkgo biloba extract is well known for its antioxidant activity. Ginkgo biloba also reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Glycine max

Isoflavones (such as genistein & daidzein) and saponins isolated from Glycine max inhibit growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, ovary, lung, stomach, colon, pancreas, liver, kidney, urinary bladder, prostate, testis, oral cavity, larynx, and thyroid. Glycine max is also effective in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, skin cancer, malignant lymphoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, malignant brain tumours and leukaemia. Isoflavones & saponins isolated from Glycine max possess wide ranging anticancer properties such as inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, promotion of cell differentiation and induction of apoptosis. Genistein works by blocking angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessel), acting as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (the mechanism of action of many new cancer drugs) and inducing apoptosis. Genistein is an excellent intracellular antioxidant. Genistein also blocks the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells, thus killing them by starving. Genistein and quercetin have synergistic anticancer effect against ovarian carcinoma. Saponins isolated from Glycine max decrease invasiveness of the glioblastoma cells. Anthocyanins isolated from Glycine max induce apoptosis in leukaemic cells. Glycine max protects against many cancers including that of the colon, lung and ovary.

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Flavonoids (flavones, flavonals, isoflavones, chalcones, licochalcones and bihydrochalcones), derived from Glycyrrhiza glabra possess strong anticancer, antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-ulcer, anti-HIV and hepatoprotective properties. Licochalcone-A isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra, inhibits growth & spread of various cancers particularly the androgen-refractory prostate cancer by inducing apoptosis and arresting cancer cells division. Licoagrochalcone, possesses strong anticancer activity against cancers of breast, lung, stomach, colon, liver, kidney and leukaemia. Glycyrrhizin isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra inhibits growth & spread of lung cancer and fibrosarcomas. Glycyrrhizic acid isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra protects against aflatoxins (powerful fungal carcinogens of the liver). Glycyrrhiza glabra stimulates immune system response of the body and protects against colon cancer and oestrogen-positive breast cancer.

Gossypium hirsutum

Gossypol isolated from Gossypium hirsutum inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, oesophagus, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, prostate, urinary bladder, malignant lymphoma, malignant ascites, brain tumours, sarcomas and leukaemia by inducing apoptosis and arresting cancer cell division in G0/G1 phase. The negative isomer of gossypol, (-) gossypol, inhibits growth & spread of chemotherapy & radiotherapy-resistant cancers of prostate, breast, ovary, lung, pancreas, head & neck and brain by inducing apoptosis. Gossypolone, oxidative metabolite of gossypol, inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, cervix, lung, malignant melanoma and leukaemia.

Morinda citrifolia

Damnacanthol, NB10 and NB11 isolated from Morinda citrifolia possess strong anticancer activity against various cancers particularly lung cancer and sarcomas. Morinda citrifolia, possesses strong antioxidant, hepatoprotective and immunoenhancing properties.

Nigella sativa

Thymoquinone and dithymoquinone isolated from Nigella sativa have strong anticancer activity against various cancers including cancers of the colon, prostate, pancreas, uterus, malignant ascites, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma, sarcomas and leukaemia. Thymoquinone is effective in both hormone-sensitive and hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Nigella sativa kills cancer cells by binding to the asialofeutin (lectin) on the surface of cancerous cells, causing their aggregation and clumping. Nigella sativa also possesses immunoenhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. It protects against liver cancer. Nigella sativa enhances immune function of the body and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Ocimum sanctum

Ocimum sanctum contains eugenol, eugenol derivatives, linolenic acid, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as orientin, vicenin, cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin & apigenein. Eugenol, orientin and vicenin inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as breast cancer, liver cancer and sarcomas particularly fibrosarcoma by blocking supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells and killing them by starving. Ursolic acid isolated from Ocimum sanctum has immunoenhancing and tissue-protective properties. Polysaccharides isolated from Ocimum sanctum have antioxidant and radioprotective properties. Ocimum sanctum protects against various cancers particularly the breast cancer and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.

Oldenlandia diffusa

Oldenlandia diffusa (Bai Hua She She Cao) contains oldenlandosides, stigmasterol, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, beta-sitosterol, p-coumaric acid and flavonoid glycosides. Ursolic acid inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of lung, ovary, uterus, stomach, liver, colon, rectum, brain, malignant melanoma, malignant ascites, lymphosarcoma and leukaemia. Ursolic acid works by a typical cytotoxic effect on cancer cells and by inducing apoptosis.

Panax ginseng

Ginsenosides (panaxadiol and panaxatriol saponins) isolated from Panax ginseng inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of breast, ovary, lung, prostate, colon, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, malignant lymphoma and leukaemia. Panaxadiol ginsenosides (Rb1,Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg3, Rh2) and Panaxatriols ginsenosides (Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rhi) have both preventive and therapeutic role in cancer treatment. Ginsenosides possess strong anticancer activity against lung cancer and also prevent lung metastasis by blocking angiogenesis. Compound K (a metabolite of ginsenosides) inhibits growth & spread of chemo-resistant lung cancer. Ginsenosides Rc, Rd, Rg1 and Re overcome (reverse) P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance to chemotherapy. Ginsenoside Rf  helps in reducing doses of morphine in terminally ill cancer patients. Polysaccharides of Panax ginseng possess strong immunoenhancing and anticancer activities against many cancers, particularly lung cancer. These polysaccharides also reduce side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy. Panax ginseng also possesses antistress, hepatoprotective, haemopoietic, immunoenhancing, antioxidant, radioprotective, chemoprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. Panax ginseng inhibits proliferation and seeding (metastases) in various cancers by inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis. Panax ginseng is effective in both hormone-responsive & hormone-refractory prostate and breast cancers.

Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbagin isolated from Plumbago zeylanica inhibits growth & spread of breast cancer, liver cancer, fibrosarcoma, malignant ascites and leukaemia by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Plumbago zeylanica also possesses strong antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and immunoenhancing properties.

Podophyllum hexandrum

Podophyllotoxin & podophyllin (lignans) isolated from Podophyllum hexandrum (Podophyllum hexandrum) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, ovary, lung, liver, urinary bladder, testis, brain, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukaemia. Podophyllotoxin is the most active among all the natural anticancer compounds. Podophyllum hexandrum also possesses potent radioprotective and haemopoietic properties.

Prunella vulgaris

Ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, isolated from Prunella vulgaris (Xia-ku-cao/Self heal), inhibit growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, cervix, lung, oral cavity, oesophagus, stomach, colon, thyroid, malignant lymphoma, intracranial tumours and leukaemia. Prunella vulgaris, is traditionally used in China to treat sores in mouth and throat. Prunella vulgaris also possesses immunoenhancing, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-HIV and anti-Herpes properties. Prunella vulgaris has normoblastic effect on the bone marrow.

Psoralea corylifolia

Bavachinin, corylfolinin and psoralen isolated from Psoralea corylifolia (Bu Gu Zhi), possess strong anticancer activity against lung cancer,  liver cancer, osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, malignant ascites and leukaemia. Psoralen enhances immunity of the body by stimulating natural killer cell activity. Psoralidin isolated from Psoralea corylifolia inhibits growth & spread of stomach and prostate cancers by inhibiting G2/M phase of cell cycle. Psoralidin induces apoptosis in both androgen-responsive and androgen-refractory prostate cancers. Psoralea corylifolia also possesses strong antioxidant, immunomoenhancing and hepatoprotective properties.

Rubia cordifolia

Rubidianin, rubiadin, RA-7, RA-700 and RC-18 isolated from Rubia cordifolia inhibit growth & spread in cancers of breast, ovary, cervix, colon, lung, malignant ascites, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma sarcoma and leukaemia. Rubiadin also possesses hepatoprotective activity.

Saussurea lappa

Sesquiterpenes and costunolide dehydrocostuslactone, isolated from Saussurea lappa inhibit growth & spread of breast cancer. Cynaropicrin, isolated from Saussurea lappa possesses strong anticancer activity against malignant lymphoma and leukaemia. Costunolide, isolated from Saussurea lappa inhibits growth & spread of intestinal cancer. Mokkolactone isolated from Saussurea lappa induces apoptosis in leukaemic cells. Shikokiols isolated from Saussurea lappa exhibit anticancer activity against cancers of the ovary, lung, colon and central nervous system. Saussurea lappa inhibits growth & spread of cancers by arresting cancer cell division in G2 phase and inducing apoptosis.

Solanum nigrum

Solamargine and solasonine, isolated from Solanum nigrum (Lo-ing-kue) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, liver and lung. Steroidal glycosides (spirostane, furostane, spirosolane and pregnane), isolated from Solanum nigrum inhibit growth & spread  of colon cancer and pheochromocytoma. Glycoproteins isolated from Solanum nigrum have antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on colon and breast cancers. Polysaccharides isolated from Solanum nigrum have significant inhibitory effect on growth of cervical cancer. Solanum nigrum inhibits growth & spread of liver cancer by two distinct anticancer activities, i.e. apoptosis (programmed cell death) and autophagy (autophagocytosis). Higher doses of Solanum nigrum induce apoptotic cell death while lower doses lead to autophagocytic death of cancer cells. Lunasin, isolated from Solanum nigrum is a cancer-preventive peptide. Solanum nigrum and Solanum lyrati (Shu-yang-quan) inhibit growth & spread of stomach cancer, sarcomas, malignant ascites and leukaemia.

Tinospora cordifolia

Sesquiterpenes and diterpenes isolated from Tinospora cordifolia inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including cancers of lung,cervix, throat and malignant ascites. Polysaccharide fraction isolated from Tinospora cordifolia inhibits lung metastasis. Arabinogalactan, syringine, cordiol, cordioside, cordifoliosides (A & B) isolated from Tinospora cordifolia possesses significant immunoenhancing activity. Tinospora cordifolia also possesses neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, antistress, antiulcer and antipyretic properties. Tinospora cordifolia reduces side effects of radiotherapy & chemotherapy.

Viscum album

Lectins (such as viscumin), polypeptides (viscotoxins) and phenolic compounds (such as digallic acid) isolated from Viscum album inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, cervix, ovary, lung, stomach, colon, rectum, kidney, urinary bladder, testis, malignant melanoma, sarcomas, fibrosarcoma, malignant ascites, lung metastasis and leukaemia by inducing apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis activity. Lectins isolated from Viscum album possess both anticancer and immunostimulating activities. Viscumin, responsible for most of the biological activities of Viscum album, works by bringing together immune system effector cells and cancer cells. Lectin-II induces apoptosis in cancer cells via activation of caspase cascades.

Withania somnifera

Withanolides isolated from Withania somnifera, are similar to ginsenosides (the active principles of Panax ginseng) in both structure and activity. Withanolides (including Withaferin A, Sitoindoside IX, Physagulin D, Withanoside IV and Viscosalactone B) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, lung, colon and central nervous system due to their antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties. Withaferin-A (the most important withanolides) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, cervix, colon, prostate, nasopharynx, larynx, malignant ascites and sarcomas by inducing apoptosis. Withaferin A is effective in both androgen-responsive and androgen-refractory prostate cancers. Sitoindosides VII-X and Withaferin A have strong antioxidant, antistress, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties. Withanolide D inhibits the metastatic colony formation in the lungs by malignant melanoma. Ashwagandhanolide, a new dimeric withanolide, isolated from Withania somnifera, inhibits growth & spread in cancers of breast, stomach, colon, lung and central nervous system. Withania somnifera also possesses immunoenhancing, haemopoietic and neuroprotective properties and reduces side effects of radiotherapy & chemotherapy.

Zingiber officinale