COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON ANTICANCER HERBS: ETHNOBOTANICAL INSIGHTS, PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILES AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION

Abstract

Cancer continues to pose a serious public health problem globally, and ongoing research into other therapy modalities has included the utilization of botanicals from traditional medicine. Objective:This review systematically compiles and critically evaluates herbs traditionally used in cancer treatment, focusing on their ethnobotanical relevance and available experimental evidence to highlight their potential as alternative or complementary therapeutic options in cancer management. Methodology: Literature was accessed from ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, and Web of Science between 2000 and 2024, with a focus on research reporting anticancer activity supported by in vitro or in vivo evidence. Results: A total of 198 plant species across 73 families were found, Apiaceae (12.6%), Lamiaceae (8.1%), and Liliaceae (6.1%) were the best represented. Leaves contributed 41.9% of the plant material used, followed by roots (24.2%) and bark (14.1%), indicating a shift towards sustainable collection. The phytochemical content showed flavonoids (23.7%) as the dominant phytochemical, followed by alkaloids (17.2%), terpenes (12.4%), and saponins (9.6%), which are pro-apoptotic, cell cycle arrest-inducing, and tumor cell proliferation inhibitors. Most notably, 38% of the plants tested were strongly active against breast cancer cell lines, and 24% and 19% against liver and colorectal cancer cell lines, respectively. Conclusion: This study highlights the enormous pharmacological potential of traditional medicines and provides a rationale for future drug development and integrative oncology research. Overall, this study offers a thorough data repository for the scientific community engaged in cutting-edge cancer treatment research.