Medicinal Plants in Breast Cancer Therapy

Various active compounds (or their semi-synthetic derivatives) derived from medicinal plants have been assessed for their efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of breast cancer. Some of these plant species, including Taxus baccata (paclitaxel, docetaxel), Podophyllum peltatum (etoposide), Camptotheca acuminata (camptothecin) and Vinca rosea (vinblastine, vinorelbine) have well recognized antitumour activity in breast cancer, and have been evaluated in clinical trials. For example, results from recent Phase II/III trials have established docetaxel as the most active single agent in the treatment (first or second-line) of advanced metastatic breast cancer. The treatment of breast cancer, the most common malignancy among women worldwide, remains puzzling partly due to the resistance to therapeutics, which associates with the heterogeneity of case clinical presentations, and limits in the current understanding of the pathogenesis of solid cancers. Oxidative stress is closely related to various diseases, including cancer. The human body is exposed to free radicals, which cause oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may lead to gene mutations leading to carcinogenesis. Antioxidants are protector of the body, preventing oxidative stress, by stabilizing free radicals. Plants are good and cheap sources for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress and cancer. Major drawbacks to Antioxidant from plants -based therapy and use in breast cancer are herein briefly discussed.