Table 1.

Anticancer mechanisms of common ayurvedic herbs.

HERB	References and mechanisms addressed
Curcumin/turmeric (Curcuma longa)	•Reviews details of modulation of pathways of cell proliferation, cell survival, caspase activation, tumor suppressor, death receptor, protein kinase, and mitochondrial pathways [57],
	•Reviews the role in the protection of cancer as well as neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal diseases mainly through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action. Also addresses antiviral and antiparasitic potency of curcumin (in vitro and in vivo) [13]
	•Role in prevention of cancer progression [58].
Guduchi/Amrut (Tinospora cordifolia),	•Has radioprotective role and is a strong free radical scavenger, anti-cancer effects, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetes property, anti-toxic effects, anti-arthritic, anti-osteoporotic effects [59]
Pippali (Piper longum),	•Piperine is an alkaloid from black pepper that can inhibit human colon cancer cell growth by G1 arrest and endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis [60]
Triphala: Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)	•Triphala, as a novel anticancer drug [31]
	•Reviews formulation for treating and preventing cancer: [28].
	•Antioxidant activity [61]
	•Inhibiting Angiogenesis [30]
RASAYANAS Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), and Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)	•Herbal combinations provided immunoprotection and myeloprotection during cancer chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (CP)-in mice with ascitic sarcoma without compromising CP anti-tumor activity [62]
Ayurvedic Rasayanas [15] reviewed	•A review of 15 Rasayana herbs with antioxidant properties that work across organ systems and diseases including anti-aging, cancer, diabetes, inflammation, etc [63]
Multiple Rasayanas Withania somnifera, Brahma Rasayana (BR), (36 herbs)	•Provide Adjuvant therapy to Radiation and Chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Protection of normal tissues [8,29,64,65].
Rasayanas – Maharishi Amrit Kalash- 4 (MAK-4) and MAK-5	•Inhibit LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic patients. Reduce severity of atherosclerosis [66,67]
Ashwagandha, Withaferin A Withania somnifera (Linn Dunal)	•Anticancer mechanisms of Withaferin A in glioblastoma (GBM) [68].
	•Anticancer Mechanisms of Withaferin A in Breast Cancer [69]
	•Toxicity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, immuno-modulating properties [70]
	•Anti-microbial, anti-stress, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic properties [70]
	•Withanolides used clinically in inflammation-mediated chronic diseases (including arthritis, autoimmune, cancer, neurodegenerative, and neurobehavioral). Pathways involved include NF-κB, JAK/STAT, AP-1, PPARγ, Hsp90 Nrf2, and HIF-1 [71].
	•Withaferin-A suppresses experimentally induced carcinogenesis, via anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties [72].
	•Cancer prevention and treatment (good reviews) [9,73]
	•Preventive and anticancer effect of Withaferin A include molecular targets and mechanisms [22].