Herbal Therapeutics
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
Herbal medicine has proved to be a promising alternative medicine for cancer and onco-reproductive diseases due to its polypharmacological effects, safety and its potential for enhancing the quality of life of cancer patients on conventional treatment. With the emergence of cancer-related infertility, the gonadotoxicity from cancer therapy and cancer-related endocrine disruptions, there has been a growing focus on the use of bioactive compounds from plants as novel drug substances. The active ingredients in herbal medicine such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols and phytoestrogens have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic and anticancer activity. Recent advances in phytopharmaceutical science have highlighted the importance of the application of various herbs as regulators of biological processes such as carcinogenesis, hormonal activity, apoptosis, angiogenesis and reproductive signaling. The herbs Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Panax ginseng, Camellia sinensis and Tinospora cordifolia have been shown to be medically effective for oncofertility and supportive oncology treatments. Furthermore, herbal medicine and medicines with targeted delivery of nanotechnology can be added to boost the effectiveness of treatment. However, numerous issues have to be taken into account when introducing herbal drugs in clinical practice such as the problems of standardisation, dose calculation, compatibility with drugs, regulatory requirements and large-scale testing. The present chapter is dedicated to analysis of significance of medicinal herbs for oncological and reproductive diseases.
Author Affiliations
- 1 P. Wadhwani College of Pharmacy, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India.
- 2 Tulaskar College of Pharmacy, Hinganghat, Dist. Wardha-442301, Maharashtra, India.
- 3 Rajashri College of Pharmacy, Mehkar, Maharashtra, India.