Recent advances in anticancer approach of traditional medicinal plants: A novel strategy for cancer chemotherapy

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Although great advancements have been made in the treatment and control of cancer progression, significant deficiencies and room for improvement remain. Several undesired side effects sometimes occur during chemotherapy. Natural therapies, such as the use of plant-derived products in cancer treatment, may reduce adverse side effects. Currently, a few plant products are being used to treat cancer. However, a myriad of plant products exist that have shown very promising anti-cancer properties in vitro but have yet to be evaluated in humans. Further study is required to determine the efficacy of these plant products in treating cancers in humans. This review will focus on the various traditional medicinal plants and their chemical compounds that have, in recent years, shown promise as anticancer agents and will outline their potential mechanism of action. The current manuscript discusses natural products currently in clinical use, and under clinical trials, for cancer chemotherapy and chemoprevention. Future research focusing on natural anticancer agents can open a new horizon in cancer treatment, which will play a great role in enhancing the survival rate of cancer patients.