Anticancer Uses of Medicinal Plants in Turkish Traditional Medicine

Abstract

The use of plants as therapeutic agents have been known since the ancient times. In developing countries, traditional medicinal plants are critical for disease treatment. Various herbal drugs are obtained from these plants for therapeutic use. These herbal drugs are used in the treatment of many diseases from diabetes to cancer. Today, cancer is one of the most important life-threatening diseases for human. Some of the methods used in the treatment of cancer include herbal sources. The scientific world is not oblivious to many herbal drugs used for cancer in traditional treatment methods. Due to the limited effectiveness of drugs, an increasing number of studies have been conducted in the last decade to increase the success of cancer treatments. In recent years, the importance given to the herbal drugs used for medicinal purposes and the studies on the medicinal uses of plants have increased in our country. In this review, researches about the herbal drugs traditionally used against cancer by the local people were investigated. As a result of the study, 160 plant taxa and 17 multi-herbal formulas were reported for cancer treatment in Turkish traditional medicine.

Anticancer Secondary Metabolites: From Ethnopharmacology and Identification in Native Complexes to Biotechnological Studies in Species of Genus Astragalus L. and Gloriosa L.

“…Both roots and leaves of this plant are used as a diuretic in Italy [ 34 ]. In Turkish traditional medicine, several Astragalus species are used to cure throat diseases, diabetes, cardiac disorders, toothache, and abdominal pain [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], but also against unspecified cancer [ 41 ]. The most used herbal drug derived from the genus is Radix Astragali (roots and rhizomes of A. mongholicus (syn.…”

A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

“…It is worth noting that some Liliaceae and Iridaceae species contain toxins and need to be processed for detoxification before consumption, or they are used in small quantities for medicinal purposes. This is the case for species of the genus such as Fritillaria , Lilium and Tulipa , whose USOs can be crushed and powdered and used in folk medicine in parts of current Turkey for treating wounds and other ailments [ 190 , 193 ]. Although we cannot make a direct inference for similar uses of such plants in the Neolithic, the exploitation of such geophytes by the Çatalhöyük community seems to reflect a rich phytocultural knowledge and possibly the development of complex culinary practices [ 29 , 184 , 194 – 196 ].…”

Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Malva Sylvestris L. Seed Extract Containing Novel Electrospun PVA Nanofibers

“…Turkey, in terms of medicinal and aromatic plants, is one of the world's richest countries. About 500 medicinal plants [19] in Turkey are utilized in traditional medicine or folk medicine practices. Many medicines used in modern medicine are obtained from plants.…”