Anti-cancer agents from natural sources: A review

Abstract

The natural products have played a dominant role in the treatment of human ailments. The discovery of penicillin has changed the scenario of modern medicine. With the ancient use of quinine for malaria, willow bark for pain and several other natural products used as medicines in ancient system of medicine such as Ayurveda and traditional China, the discovery of the medicines for the allopathic use from natural source has gained substantial attention. The ancient system of Ayurveda describes the used of many plants extracts being used for the treatment of cancer. Prevailing epidemiological factors have also described the use of the msediterranean diet and inclusion of fruits and vegetables to score low as risk factor for the cancers. Further the several discoveries have led to the transformation of the active constituents of the natural products from the dietary sources for the chemoprevention. Substantial trials in the development of the drugs from the marine and microbial origin have been fruitful and positive to develop safe and efficacious drugs. However, the success being very low due to unavailability of natural products in large gram amounts required for the clinical trials. The total synthesis of m any natural products from marine origin has also emerged to solve this issue and led to successful development of 4 marine drugs as anti-cancer agents. This overview reviews the anticancer drugs from the natural origin as the chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Wherever possible the details of the clinical trials have been discussed along with uses and mechanism of action.