Treating Cancers Using Nature’s Medicine: Significance and Challenges

There was a time when plant-derived natural formulations were the cornerstone of ancient therapeutic approaches for treating many illnesses [1]. With the advent of science-based ‘modern’ medicine, plant-based natural remedies for treating ailments came under intense scrutiny for their lack of scientific basis [1]. However, researchers kept seeking to identify the scientific basis of herbal remedies, medicinal plants, and functional foods. In recent decades, the emphasis on identifying therapeutic plant-based active principles led to significant advancements in the identification and use of natural compounds to treat various diseases (Figure 1) [2,3]. Much of the current knowledge of medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties derives from traditional Chinese or Indian medicine [3]. It is notable that an estimated 25–28% of modern medicines used by humanity, including those applied for the treatment of cancers, are directly or indirectly derivatives/compounds obtained from plants or other natural sources [3,4].

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Published in: Biomolecules
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/biom11111698