ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2012;29(3):117-123

 Review article

UDC:615.322:616-006.6-08        DOI: 10.2478/v10283-012-0016-4

Contribution of Selected Medicinal Plants for Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Zohara Yaniv Bachrach

Department of Genetic Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences, Volcani Center, Bet-Dagan, Israel


sUMMARY

Since time immortal, plants have been used for maintaining health and curing disease. With cancer being a widespread threat to humanity, plants play an important role in cancer prevention, as well as in therapy. Medicinal plants provide new active chemopreventive molecules. In addition, treatment with plants can ease side-effects as well as provide support to the fears and anxieties of the sick. In this review, methods of exploring new plants and new active plant-derived compounds are described, including ethnobotanical research and screening procedures. Three newly researched medicinal plants, native of Israel, are selected, and new research findings related to their anticancer activities are presented. The plants are: Crocus sativus, Vitex agnus-cactus and Withania somnifera. All three plants are known in traditional medicine and their therapeutical uses are documented. Most findings are preliminary and further studies are required for clinical applications.

Key words: ethnobotany, medicinal plants, cancer prevention, anticancer compounds, chemoprevention