From: Anticancer activity of Nigerian medicinal plants: a review
Anticancer drug | Plant source | Bioactive compound involved | Pharmacological actions |
---|---|---|---|
Paclitaxel (Taxol) | Taxus brevifolia (Taxaceae) | Taxane | Disruption, polymerization, and stabilization of the microtubules stimulate cancer cell apoptosis, hinder translational machinery, interfere with the synthesis of the spindle, and inhibit mitosis. |
Vinblastine, Vinflunine Vinorelbine, Vindesine, Vincristine, | Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) | Vinca alkaloids | Antitumor effects, proapoptotic activity, and obstruction of the cell cycle inhibits mitosis, attaches to β-tubulin, and interferes with microtubule activity. |
Pomiferin | Maclura pomifera (Moraceae); Derris malaccensis (Leguminosae) | Isoflavonoid | Inhibitor of histone deacetylases induces DNA fragmentation, cytotoxic to cancerous cells, and causes proapoptosis. |
Epigallacotechin-3-gallate | Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) | Catechin | Inhibits the action of certain kinases, hinders the proliferation of cancer cells, exerts antioxidant effects, and inhibits carcinogenesis caused by chemicals and UV radiations. |
Sulphoraphane | Brassica rapa (Brassicaceae) | Isotiocynanate | Hinders the development of breast tumors, inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells, and stimulates phase 2 enzymes for detoxification. |
Flavopiridol | Dysoxylum binectariferum (Meliaceae) | Synthetic flavonoid derivative, rohitukine | Inhibits cell growth, immune system modulation, exerts tyrosine kinase activity, and ameliorates inflammation. |
Epipodophyllotoxin | Podophyllum peltatum (Berberidaceae) | Podophyllotoxin isomer | Disrupts cell cycle and causes proapoptosis of cancer cells. |
Combretastatin A-4 phosphate | Combretum caffrum (Combretaceae) | Water-soluble analog of combretastatin | Inhibits angiogenesis, vascular shutdown, and necrosis of tumor cells. |
Noscapine | Papaver somniferum (Papaveraceae) | Noscapine alkaloid | Inhibition of cancer cells proliferation hinders the growth of tumors and interferes with microtubules. |
Roscovitine | Raphanus sativus (Brassicaceae) | Olomucine | Inhibits the continuation of the cell cycle and inhibits cyclin-dependent kinases. |