Cancer is a serious concern at present. A large number of patients die each year due to cancer illnesses in spite of several interventions available. Development of an effective and side effects lacking anticancer therapy is the trending research direction in healthcare pharmacy. Chemical entities present in plants proved to be very potential in this regard. Bioactive phytochemicals are preferential as they pretend differentially on cancer cells only, without altering normal cells. Carcinogenesis is a complex process and includes multiple signaling events. Phytochemicals are pleiotropic in their function and target these events in multiple manners; hence they are most suitable candidate for anticancer drug development. Efforts are in progress to develop lead candidates from phytochemicals those can block or retard the growth of cancer without any side effect. Several phytochemicals manifest anticancer function in vitro and in vivo. This article deals with these lead phytomolecules with their action mechanisms on nuclear and cellular factors involved in carcinogenesis. Additionally, druggability parameters and clinical development of anticancer phytomolecules have also been discussed.

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Lead Phytochemicals for Anticancer Drug Development.

Natural products targeting the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in cancer: A novel therapeutic strategy.

Dietary guidelines universally advise adherence to plant-based diets. Plant-based foods confer considerable health benefits, partly attributable to their abundant micronutrient (e.g., polyphenol) content. Interest in polyphenols is largely focused on the contribution of their antioxidant activity to the prevention of various disorders, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Polyphenols are classified into groups, such as stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and others. Lignans, which possess a steroid-like chemical structure and are defined as phytoestrogens, are of particular interest to researchers. Traditionally, health benefits attributed to lignans have included a lowered risk of heart disease, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and breast cancer. However, the intake of naturally lignan-rich foods varies with the type of diet. Consequently, based on the latest humans’ findings and gathered information on lignan-rich foods collected from Phenol Explorer database this review focuses on the potential health benefits attributable to the consumption of different diets containing naturally lignan-rich foods. Current evidence highlight the bioactive properties of lignans as human health-promoting molecules. Thus, dietary intake of lignan-rich foods could be a useful way to bolster the prevention of chronic illness, such as certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disease.

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Naturally lignan-rich foods: a dietary tool for health promotion?

Folk medicinal practitioners (Kavirajes) of Bangladesh are consulted for treatment of various ailments by a substantial segment of the rural and urban population of the country. The major element that distinguishes the folk medicinal practitioners from other forms of medical practices is their use of simple formulations of medicinal plants for treatment. The plant(s) used by the Kavirajes for treatment of any specific ailment vary considerably in the various parts of the country, and such differences exist even among Kavirajes of adjoining villages. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes of two villages, namely Babla and Terbaria, which lies in Tangail district in the central portion of the country. Each village had one practicing Kaviraj. After obtaining informed consent from the Kavirajes, interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire and the guided field-walk method. It was observed that the Kavirajes of the two villages used a total of 28 plants distributed into 22 families for treatment of various ailments. Leaves constituted the major plant part used, being used 48.7% of the time. From the number of plants used, it appeared that gastrointestinal tract disorders formed the major complaint of the patients with 5 plants used for treatment of various complaints like constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and loss of appetite. Four plants each were used for treatment of pain, and skin disorders (scabies, eczema), and as blood purifier. Four plants were used for treatment of diseases in cattle. Among other ailments treated by the Kavirajes were tuberculosis, sexual disorders, urinary problems, infections, fever, hepatic disorders, kidney problems, pneumonia, stomach stones, diabetes, swellings, debility, helminthiasis, hypertension, vitamin C deficiency, tumor, and poisoning. One plant was used to maintain the body in good health and so served as a preventive measure instead of a curative effect. Since a number of allopathic medicines have been derived from medicinal plants, the plants reported in the present survey can, following scientific inquiry, form novel sources of newer drugs.

A survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh.

Folk medicine is a traditional form of medicinal practice in Bangladesh, which is practiced by practitioners who exist both among the mainstream Bengali-speaking population as well as among the various tribes of Bangladesh. The mainstay of the folk medicinal formulations consist of medicinal plants, which are used directly or in the form of decoctions, juice, pastes and are administered either orally or topically, depending upon the ailments treated. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the traditional medicinal practitioners, otherwise known as Kavirajes of two villages of Madhupur sub-district in Tangail district of the country. One practitioner catered to the medicinal needs of the Bengali speaking population, while the other belonged to the Garo tribe and administered to the medicinal needs of the Garo village community. It was observed that a total of 53 plant species were prescribed by the two practitioners, of which 37 plants were prescribed by the non-Garo practitioner and 16 plants by the Garo practitioner. The various plant species belonged to 37 families. Major families included the Fabaceae family, which contributed 4 plants and the Acanthaceae, Combretaceae and Rutaceae families, which contributed 3 plants per family. Leaves formed the major plant part used (43.8%) in the formulations followed by stems and fruits at 14.1% each. Roots were used 12.5% of the time. Other plant parts used included sap, bark, flower, fruit, seed, oil and rhizome. Whole plants were not used at all by any of the two practitioners surveyed. The major ailments treated were gastrointestinal disorders (including diarrhea, dysentery and acidity) and sexual disorders (including loss of libido, infertility and passing of semen with urine). Nine plants were used for treatment of pain in various parts of the body and 8 plants were used for treatment of skin diseases. Four plants were used for treatment of jaundice and three plants each were used for treatment of fever, cholera, or urinary problems. Other diseases treated by the practitioners were helminthiasis, asthma, heart disorders and hemorrhoids, sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea and chicken pox. Two plants were used for preventive purposes; Opuntia dillenii was advised to be taken for maintenance of health and mental strength, while Tinospora crispa was advised to be taken for prevention of intestinal disorders. The Kavirajes also prescribed Zanthoxylum simulans not for treatment of any disease but as a vitamin source. Plants have always formed an important source for discovery of modern allopathic medicines. It is expected that the plants observed to be used for treatment of various diseases by the Kavirajes can be subjected for further bio-activity studies, which studies can lead to discovery of better drugs.

A survey of medicinal plants used by Garo and non-Garo traditional medicinal practitioners in two villages of Tangail district, Bangladesh.

The rural population of Bangladesh has traditionally depended on folk medicinal healers for cure of their ailments. These healers use medicinal plants as their primary source of medicinal formulations. Rural patients are more dependent on traditional or folk medicinal healers for cure of urinary tract infections (UTI) and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) for a number of reasons including lack of access to modern medical facilities, clinging to traditional approaches, and finally hesitancy to relate this form of illnesses in front of unknown doctors. Since the traditional healer usually resides in the same village or in an adjoining area, the patient is more comfortable in seeking their treatment. We conducted an ethnomedicinal survey amongst the traditional healers of various ethnic groups and in several regions of the country to obtain information on medicinal plants used to treat UTI and STD. Interviews were conducted in the local dialect or language and information gathered as to plant and plant parts used, ailments, formulations, and dosages. Plant specimens were photographed and identified at the Bangladesh National Herbarium. A total of 32 plants distributed into 23 families were reported by the traditional healers of several districts and tribes of Bangladesh as to their being used as remedy for UTIs, including leucorrhea, frequent or infrequent urination, cloudy urination and burning sensations during urination. A total of 10 plants divided into 9 families were reported to be used against STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea.

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Traditional use of medicinal plants in Bangladesh to treat urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases

A Randomized survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal healers of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh

Rosmarinic acid is an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl lactic acid commonly found in plants belonging to the Boraginaceae and the subfamily Nepetoideae of the Lamiaceae family. The compound has a number of important biological activities, e.g. antiviral, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant. This review shall focus on the reported anticancer activities of rosmarinic acid and discuss its therapeutic potential against a variety of cancers including colon and skin cancer.

Rosmarinic acid: a review of its anticancer action

Folk medicinal practitioners form the first tier of primary health-care providers to most of the rural population of Bangladesh. They are known locally as Kavirajes and rely almost solely on oral or topical administration of whole plants or plant parts for treatment of various ailments. Also about 2% of the total population of Bangladesh are scattered among more than twenty tribes residing within the country's borders. The various tribes have their own tribal practitioners, who use medicinal plants for treatment of diseases. The objective of the present survey was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among the Kavirajes and tribal practitioners to determine which species of plants belonging to the Verbenaceae family are used by the practitioners. The Verbenaceae family plants are well known for constituents having important bio-active properties. The present survey indicated that 13 species belonging to 8 genera are used by the folk and tribal medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh. A comparison of their folk medicinal uses along with published reports in the scientific literature suggests that the Verbenaceae family plants used in Bangladesh can potentially be important sources of lead compounds or novel drugs for treatment of difficult to cure debilitating diseases like malaria and rheumatoid arthritis.

https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/63332/1/tc11069.pdf

Folk medicinal uses of Verbenaceae family plants in Bangladesh.

It has been estimated that 300–500 million malaria infections occur on an annual basis and causes fatality to millions of human beings. Most of the drugs used for treatment of malaria have developed drug-resistant parasites or have serious side effects. Plant kingdom has throughout the centuries proved to be efficient source of efficacious malarial drugs like quinine and artemisinin. Since these drugs have already developed or in the process of developing drug resistance, it is important to continuously search the plant kingdom for more effective antimalarial drugs. In this aspect, the medicinal practices of indigenous communities can play a major role in identification of antimalarial plants. Bangladesh has a number of indigenous communities or tribes, who because of their living within or in close proximity to mosquito-infested forest regions, have high incidences of malaria. Over the centuries, the tribal medicinal practitioners have treated malaria with various plant-based formulations. The objective of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal survey among various tribes of Bangladesh to identify the plants that they use for treatment of the disease. Surveys were conducted among seven tribes, namely, Bawm, Chak, Chakma, Garo, Marma, Murong, and Tripura, who inhabit the southeastern or northcentral forested regions of Bangladesh. Interviews conducted with the various tribal medicinal practitioners indicated that a total of eleven plants distributed into 10 families were used for treatment of malaria and accompanying symptoms like fever, anemia, ache, vomiting, and chills. Leaves constituted 35.7% of total uses followed by roots at 21.4%. Other plant parts used for treatment included barks, seeds, fruits, and flowers. A review of the published scientific literature showed that a number of plants used by the tribal medicinal practitioners have been scientifically validated in their uses. Taken together, the plants merit further scientific research towards possible discovery of novel compounds that can be used to successfully treat malaria with less undesirable sideeffects.

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Shahadat Hossan

Papers

Traditional use of medicinal plants in Bangladesh to treat urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases

A Randomized survey of medicinal plants used by folk medicinal healers of Sylhet Division, Bangladesh

Rosmarinic acid: a review of its anticancer action

Folk medicinal uses of Verbenaceae family plants in Bangladesh.

Medicinal Plants Used by Various Tribes of Bangladesh for Treatment of Malaria