Table 1 Nigerian medicinal plants and their anticancer activity
From: Anticancer activity of Nigerian medicinal plants: a review
Anticancer plant (family) | Part used for study | Extractant used for study | Bioactive compound | Cancer cell type | Pharmacological actions | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acronychia baueri (Rutaceae) | Bark | Aqueous | Normelicopidine, melicopine, acronycine, and triterpenelupeol | Not specified | Antiproliferative effect | [19] |
Ageratum conyzoides (Compositae) | Leaf | Ethylacetate | Kaempferol, oxygenated terpenes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, and monoterpene hydrocarbons | Lung, blood, central nervous system and prostate | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Alchornea cordifolia (Euphorbiaceae) | Leaf and bark | Methanol | Flavonoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, steroids, anthraquinone, terpenes, xanthones, alkaloids, and tannins | Blood | Apoptotic effect | |
Allium sativum (Amaryllidaceae) | Bulb | Ethanol | S-allylcysteine, S-allylmercapto-L-cysteine, diallyl disulfide, diallyltrisulfide, and allicin | Skin, colon, lung, prostate, blood, and breast | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Aloe barbadensis (Asphodelaceae) | Leaf | Ethanol | Aloe-emodin | Liver and lung | Modulation of lipid peroxidation, cytotoxic and antioxidant effects | |
Alstonia boonei (Apocynaceae) | Stem-bark, leaf and root | Methanol and n-hexane | Echitamine, eugenol, 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, and alstiboonine | Pancreas, lung, prostate, colon | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects | |
Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae) | Leaf and stem-bark | Hydroethanol | Agathisflavone, methyl gallate, anacardicin, zoapatanolide A, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and polyphenols | Laryngeal, blood, and cervical | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Anogeissus leiocarpus (Combretaceae) | Leaf and root | Ethanol | Ellagic acid, castalagin, and flavogallonic acid | Liver | Antiproliferative effect | |
Astragalus membranaceus (Fabaceae) | Root | Not specified | Isoflavones, calycosin, ononin, formononetin, and campanulin | Breast | Antiproliferative, apoptotic and cytostatic effects, restoration of deformed T cells | |
Atractylis lancea (Compositae) | Root | Ethanol and petroleum ether | Polyacetylenes, sesdquiterpenes, and sesquiterpene lactones | Liver and stomach | Cell cycle arrest, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects | |
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) | Leaves, seeds | Ethanol | flavonoids, phenolics, limonoids, triterpenoids | Skin, prostate, breast, cervical, blood, liver, colon, lung, and stomach | Antiproliferative effects through the induction of autophagy, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest | |
Boerhaavia diffusa (Nyctaginaceae) | Leaf | Ethanol and methanol | Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenes, anthraquinones, and steroids | Cervical and breast | Cell cycle arrest, antiproliferative effects | |
Cajanus cajan (Fabaceae) | Leaf | Ethanol | Longistylin C, longistylin A, stilbenoids, and flavonoids | Colorectal, breast, cervical, lung, blood and liver | Antiproliferative effect | |
Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) | Leaf | Not specified | (+)-gallocatechin, (-)-epigallocatechingallate, and (-)-epigallocatechin | Colon, lung, breast, and liver | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, cell cycle arrest | |
Carica papaya (Caricaceae) | Leaf | Aqueous | Ascorbic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, tetrahydroxyflavone, kaempferol-β-D-glucopyranoside, papain, lycopene, morin, cystatin, fisetin, benzylisothiocyanate, luteolin-β-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin, and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside | Prostate, lung, blood, pancreas, and liver | Antiproliferative effect | |
Cassia occidentalis (Fabaceae) | Whole plant | Aqueous | Flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and saponins | Colon, ovary, cervical, breast, and prostate | Antiproliferative effect | |
Chromolaena odorata (Compositae) | Leaf | n-Hexane and ethanol | 2-hydroxy-4, 4, 5, 6-tetramethoxychalcone, acacetin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferide, and rhamnazin | Breast, lung, and blood | Cytotoxic effect | |
Citrus aurantifolia (Rutaceae) | Not specified | Aqueous | Polymethoxyflavones | Colon, pancreas, and breast | Induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, cell lysis, inhibition of metastasis, strengthening immunity | |
Croton zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae) | Leaf | Dichloromethane | Ent-trachyloban-3-β-ol, ent-trachyloban-3-one, ent-18-hydroxy-trachyloban-3-one, trans-phytol, isopimara-7, and 15-dien-3-β-ol | Cervical | Cytotoxic effect | |
Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Asclepiadaceae) | Root | Aqueous | Cryptolepine, ascryptolepinoic acid, quindoline, and methyl cryptolepinoate | Lung | Antiproliferative effect, reduction of cancer cell viability | |
Curcuma longa (Zingiberacea) | Rhizome | Ethanol | Curcumin | Breast, stomach, colon, lung, and liver | Apoptotic, antiproliferative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, Cell cycle arrest | |
Derris scandens (Fabaceae) | Not specified | Ethanol | Glyurallin, derriscandenon B and C, isochandaisone, and derrubone | Colon | Apoptotic effects, inhibition of mitosis | |
Enantia chlorantha (Annonaceae) | Stem-bark | Methanol | Columbamine, saponins, pseudocolumbamine, and palmatine | Colorectal, liver, and lung | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects | |
Fagara zanthoxyloides (Rutaceae) | Root | Aqueous | Fagaronine | Blood and prostate | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, inhibits cancer cell viability | |
Glochidion zeylanicum (Euphorbiaceae) | Stem-bark, leaf and root | Methanol and aqueous | Triterpinoids and megastigmane glycosides | Prostate, colon, and liver | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Fabaceae) | Whole plant | Aqueous | Licochalcone and isoliquiritigenin | Prostate, breast, and colon | Apoptotic and antiproliferative effects, cell cycle arrest | |
Goniothalamus macrophyllus (Annonaceae) | Root and stem | Methanol | Goniothalamin | Cervical, breast, and colon | Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects | |
Harungana madagascariensis (Guttiferae) | Stem-bark | Methanol and dichloromethane | Coumarins, anthraquinones, bioflavonoids, anthrone derivatives, and xanthones | Blood | Cytotoxic effect, activates nitric oxide secretion | |
Khaya senegalensis (Meliaceae) | Stem-bark | Methanol and hydroethanol | 3α, 7α-dideacetylkhivorin, 1-O-deacetylkhayanolide E4, khayanolide B2, 6-dehydroxylkhayanolide E5, 1-O-acetylkhayanolide B1, and khayanolide E3 | Colon, cervical, liver, and breast | Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects | |
Lophira alata (Ochnaceae) | Stem-bark | Methanol | Azobechalcone A, flavonoids, isolophirachalcone, lophirone F, lophirone A, triterpenes, sterols, polyphenols, lophirones C, and lophirones B | Liver, lung, breast, skin, and colon | Antiproliferative, antitumor and cytotoxic effects | |
Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) | Stem-bark | Methanol | Galloyl glycosides , lupeol, mangiferin, gallotannins, and gallic acid | Breast, kidney, ovary, and colon | Antiproliferative effect | |
Milicia excelsa (Moraceae) | Root | Methanol | Neocyclomorusin, cudraxanthone I, betulinic acid, 6-geranylnorartocarpetin, and atalantoflavone | Cervical, liver, colon, and brain | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects | |
Morinda lucida (Rubiaceae) | Leaf and stem-bark | Aqueous and methanol | Molucidin, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, oruwacin, digitolutein, , ursolic acid, rubiadin-1-methyl ether, phytol, cycloartenol, oleanolic acid, damnacantha and campesterol | Prostate, stomach, colon and blood | Antiproliferative effect | |
Newbouldia laevis (Bignoniaceae) | Root-bark | Methanol | 2-acetylfuro-1, 4-naphthoquinone, triterpenoid, tannins, steroids, and quinone derivatives | Pancreas and blood | Antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects | |
Ocimum gratissimum (Labiatae) | Leaf | Ethanol and aqueous | 3, 4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, oleanolic acid, saponins, linalool, eugenol, gerianol, alkaloids, thymol, and citral | Cervical, breast, prostate, lung, colon, pancreas, kidney, and bone | Antiproliferative effect | |
Panax ginseng (Araliaceae) | Root and rhizomes | Not specified | Ginsenoside Rp1 | Breast | Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects, cell cycle arrest | |
Picrorhiza kurroa (Plantaginaceae) | Root | Hydroalcohol | Apiocynin, cucurbitacinesaglycone, caffeic esters, and picrosides | Cervical and breast | Cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects | |
Phyllanthus amarus (Euphorbiaceae) | Whole plant | Methanol | Flavonoids, ellagitannins, polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, phyllanthin, saponins, and alkaloids | Lung, breast, pancreas, neuron, skin, ovarian, and prostate | Apoptotic, antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, cell cycle arrest | |
Phyllanthus emblica (Phyllanthacae) | Fruit and leaf | Aqueous and ethanolic | Ellagic acid, chebulagic acid, and gallic acid | Cervical and colon | Reduction of cancer cell viability, cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) | Leaf | Hexane | Cryptonine, tannins, apigenin, dihydrobenzophenanthridine, lycopene, and saponins | Breast, blood cervical, and prostate | Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects | |
Punica granatum (Lythraceae) | Fruit | Aqueous | Ellagic acid, ellagitannins, punicalagin, and tannins | Colorectal and colon | Cell cycle arrest, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects | |
Rauvolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) | Root | Ethanol | β-carboline, terpenes, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, and flavonoids | Pancreas, ovarian, and prostate | Cytotoxic, apoptotic and antiproliferative effects, cell cycle arrest | |
Scoparia dulcis (Scrophulariaceae) | Leaf | Petroleum ether, ethanol and methanol | Dulcidiol, iso-dulcinol, scopadiol, 4-epi-scopadulcic acid B, and scopanolal | Stomach and prostate | Cytotoxic effect | |
Tabebuia avellanedae (Bignoniaceae) | Bark | Not specified | β-lapachone | Liver | Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects | [165] |
Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae) | Leaf bulb | Butanol ethanol | Tannins, triterpenes, sterols, flavonoids, and glycosides | Cervical | Cytotoxic effects | |
Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae) | Stem | Dichloromethane and methanol | Epoxycleodanediterpene, arabinogalactan, berberine, and phenolics | Breast and cervical | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects | |
Tithonia diversifolia (Compositae) | Leaf | Ethanol and methanol | Tagitinin C, 1β -methoxydiversifolin 3-O-methyl ether, and 1β and 2α-epoxytagitinin C | Colon and blood | Antiproliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cancer cell viability, stimulation of cancer cell autophagy | |
Uvaria chamae (Annonaceae) | Stem-bark and root | Ethanol | Dichamanetin, diuvaretin, uvaretin, chamanetin, pinocembrin, isouvaretin, pinostrobin, and isochamanetin | Blood | Antiproliferative effect | |
Vernonia amygdalina (Compositae) | Leaf | Chloroform | Steroid glycosides and edotide | Breast and cervical | Antiproliferative effect | |
Zanthoxylum nitidum (Rutaceae) | Root | Not specified | Nitidine and benzophenanthridine | Lung, cervical, and liver | Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect | |
Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae) | Whole plant | Ethyl acetate | 10-gingerol, 10-shogaol, 6-gingerol, and 6-shogaol | Prostate, liver, breast, and esophageal | Antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects |