Table 1.
Ethno-pharmacological profile of Islamic and Arabic Plants used in treatment of cancer.
| Plant name | English name | Ethno pharmacological profile in cancer | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia seyal | Acacia | Demonstrated potential cytotoxic activities on the cancer cells HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adeno carcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma) and HCT-116 (colorectal carcinoma); It Prevents the development of cancer. |
55, 56, 57 |
| Acorus calamus | Sweet flag | Extract inhibits growth of several cell lines of mouse and human origin; Protected most of the changes in the rat brain induced by noise-stress; Studies have reported a wide range of pharmacological activities exhibited by Acorus rhizome and its constituents, particularly α.- and β.-asarone. |
58, 59, 60 |
| Agaricus campestris | Mushroom | Showed cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell line HO-8910 & 7721; Reduced glycemia levels in patients with colorectal cancer; Demonstrated cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines of larynx carcinoma (HEp-2) and breast carcinoma (MCF-7). |
61, 62, 63, 64 |
| Allium ascalonicum | Leek | Showed anti-growth activity on the cancer cell lines Jurkat and K562; Anti-angiogenic activity of fractions and sub-fractions was examined on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in collagen matrix and chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models; Anticancer activity of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) was reported in human uterine cervical carcinoma (HeLa cells). |
65, 66, 67 |
| Allium cepa | Onion | Low risk of colorectal, breast, and lung cancers was found in individuals using onion and garlic; Reduces the risk of esophageal and stomach cancer, distal colon cancer; Reduces the ratio of prostate cancer by 30–50%. |
29, 30, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 |
| Allium sativum | Garlic | Death ratio (attributed to stomach cancer) was reduced by 10 fold with the use of garlic; Low risk of colorectal, breast and lung cancer due to onion & garlic use; Reduces the risk of esophageal and stomach cancer, distal colon cancer; Reduces the ratio of prostate cancer by 30–50%. |
29, 30, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78 |
| Aloe vera | Aloe | Aqueous cream was useful in reducing dry desquamation and pain related to radiation therapy; The use of mild soap and Aloe vera gel showed a protective effect towards skin reactions in patients undergoing radiation therapy; Studies reported presence of anticancer activity and extract of aloe vera demonstrated suppression of cell proliferation in human neuroblastoma cell lines (IMR-32, TGW, CHP-126 and NBL-S); Hydroxyanthraquinone compound Aloe emodin (AE) demonstrated antineoplastic activity in metastatic human melanoma cell lines and in primary stem-like cells (melanospheres). |
79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 |
| Anethum graveolens | Dill | Anethofuran a potential cancer chemopreventive has been isolated. | 39, 85 |
| Apium graveolens | Celery | Bioassay guided isolation resulted different compounds, out of which, 3-n-butyl phthalide and sedanolide were both active in tumor inhibition; Topoisomerase-I and II enzymes inhibitory compounds, Senkyunolide-N, Senkyunolide-J & 3-hydroxymethyl-6-methoxy-2, 3-dihydro-1H-indol-2-ol have been isolated from the seeds; The seed extract of celery demonstrated antiproliferative activity and apoptosis on human stomach cancer cell line BGC-823. |
86, 87, 88, 89 |
| Artemisia absinthium | Wormwood |
Artemisia absinthium induced anti-proliferative effects on human breast cancer cells trigger apoptosis in both cell lines through the modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins and the MEK/ERK pathway; Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) suppresses tumor necrosis factor alpha;A. absinthium and A. vulgaris demonstrated cytotoxic activity in breast cancer cell line (MCF7) and human embryonic kidney normal cell line (HEK293). |
4, 90, 91, 92 |
| Arum palaestinum | Palestine Arum | Treatment of different human cancer cell lines with the ethyl acetate fraction led to dose-dependent suppression in the proliferation of both breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) & lymphoblastic leukemia cells (1301); A novel alkylated piperazine was isolated which showed a significant cytotoxicity against cultured tumor cell lines In vitro; Study showed inhibition of prostate cancer spheroids and reduce growth rate of prostate tumors in mice. |
77, 93, 94, 95, 96 |
| Astoma seselifolium | Astoma | Used in cancer prevention and treatment. | 4 |
| Beta vulgaris | Beet-Root | An In-vivo anti-tumor promoting activity evaluation against the mice skin and lung bioassays revealed a significant tumor inhibitory effect; The cytotoxic effect of the red beetroot extract in the androgen-independent human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and in the well-established estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) suggested a potent anticancer activity; Betanin/isobetanin extract demonstrated anticancer activity in MCF-7 treated cells. |
97, 98, 99, 100 |
| Boswellia carterii | Olibanum | Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid, a compound isolated from Boswellia carterii, caused G1-phase cell cycle arrest with an induction of p21 and a reduction of cyclin D1 as well in prostate cancer cells; Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carterii induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity; Extracts of the plant demonstrated cytotoxicity in HepG2 and HCT 116 cell lines. |
101, 102, 103, 104 |
| Brassica nigra | Mustard | Mustard acts as a potent antagonist of the adverse biological effects of the ultimate metabolites of Benzo[a]pyrene mutagenicity; Tumoricidal activity was demonstrated on In vivo Drosophila melanogaster (SMART) and the In vitro HL60 (human promyelocytic leukemia cell line) systems; Mustard essential oil, allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) exhibited antineoplastic activity on bladder cancer cell lines carrying a wild type (wt; RT4) or mutated (T24) TP53 gene. |
105, 106, 107, 108 |
| Brassica oleracea | Wild Cabbage | Inhibit the growth of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (ER+; MCF-7 and BT474) and ER-negative (ER−; MDA-MB-231 and BT20) human breast cancer cell lines; Widely regarded as potentially cancer preventative. |
4, 77, 109, 110 |
| Bryonia syriaca | Syrian Bryony | Used in treatment of cancer. | 4, 77 |
| Capparis spinosa | Caper | Protein are isolated from caper, which inhibited proliferation of hepatoma HepG2 cells, colon cancer HT29 cells and breast cancer MCF-7 cells; Essential oil and aqueous infusion showed high inhibitory effect on HT-29 cell proliferation and on nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity; Study reported C. spinosa. extract mediated apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway in SGC-7901 cells. |
111, 112, 113, 114 |
| Cassia senna | Senna | Senna aqueous extract avoid H2O2-induced mutagenesis and toxicity in Escherichia coli IC203 (uvrA oxyR) and IC205 (uvrA mutM) strains; Rhein (0.1 and 1 μg/ml) significantly reduced cell proliferation as well as mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. |
115, 116, 117 |
| Ceterach officinarum | Yellow pincushion | The chemical 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde present in Officinarum acts as an inhibitor of growth of human cancer cells; Plasmid DNA after treatment with UV and H2O2, supercoiled DNA was successfully protected in the presence of 20 mg/ml or above concentrations of aqueous extract. |
4, 39, 118, 119 |
| Chrysanthemum coronarium | Crown Daisy | Sesquiterpene lactones is isolated, which showed weak activities against human cancer cell lines such as A549, PC-3, HCT-15; Dihydrochrysanolide derivatives isolated were also examined for their cytotoxic activity against such human cell lines as A549, PC-3 and HCT-15; Essential oil of Chrysanthemum coronarium demonstrated antiproliferative effect in human colon cancer cell lines. |
4, 39, 120, 121, 122 |
| Cichorium intybus | Chicory | Chicory showed tumor-inhibitory effect against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice; Protected DNA against oxidative damage to its deoxyribose moiety; Demonstrated notable growth inhibition in leukemia cell lines. |
77, 123, 124, 125 |
| Cinnamomum camphora | Camphor | Camphorin isolated, which showed inhibition to the human hepatocarcinoma cell-line 7721 and solid melanoma in the skin of the nude mouse; Subamone a novel Cinnamomum monoterpenoid, was evaluated against A549 (human lung cancer cell), and DU-145 and LNCaP (human prostate cancer cell lines). |
126, 127, 128 |
| Citrullus colocynthis | Colocynth | Cucurbitacin glucosides exhibit pleiotropic effects on cells, causing both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; Cucurbitacins-type triterpene glucoside had potent inhibitory activity on HepG2. |
129, 130, 131 |
| Commiphora molmol | Myrrh |
C. molmol offered protection against mucosal damage caused by indomethacin and its combination with ethanol; Emulsion used protected against PbAc-induced hepatic oxidative damage and immunotoxicity; Hybrids from the compound Myrrhanone-C demonstrated significant anticancer activity in human lung A-549, cervical (Hela), breast (MCF-7), renal (ACHN), colon (Colo-205) and mouse melanoma (B-16) cell lines; Gulgulipid extract from the plant exhibited anticancer activity in human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP (androgen-dependent) and its androgen-independent variant (C81). |
132, 133, 134, 135, 136 |
| Crataegus azarolus | Azarole Hawthorn | Hexanoic extract showed cytotoxic effect against larynx HEp-2 cells; Crataegus azarolus ethyl acetate extract showed antiproliferative activity and apoptosis in human metastatic colorectal cancer cell lines HCT-116 and HT-29; It also demonstrated growth inhibition in mice B16F10 melanoma cells and inhibited melanin synthesis. | 4, 39, 136, 137, 138 |
| Crocus sativus | Saffron | Crocin from Crocus Sativus possesses significant Anti-Proliferation effects on human colorectal cancer cells; human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines A549 and SPC-A1 and mice MCF-7 cell lines Isolated carotenoid ingredients of saffron demonstrated cytotoxic activity against in vitro tumor cells. |
139, 140, 141, 142, 143 |
| Cucumis melo | Cucumber | Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids showed significant cytotoxic activity against the proliferation of A549/ATCC and BEL7402 cells in vitro; Reduces risk of cancer and other chronic diseases; Cucurbitacin-E (CuE) isolated from the plant may have antitumor activity in glioma therapy. |
144, 145, 146, 147 |
| Matricaria aurea | Chamomile | Exhibited cytotoxic effect on PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells; Showed positive effects in Anti-genotoxicity studies. Apigenin glucosides are present which inhibited cancer cell growth; Bisabolol and α-Bisabolol-Rich Oils showed anticancer properties. |
4, 39, 148, 149, 150, 151 |
| Narcissus tazetta | Bunchflower daffodil | Extracts strongly decreased the survival rate of cell lines: HL-60, K562, KT1/A3, and A3R; Pseudolycorine alkaloid showed remarkable antileukemic activity; Fractions of narcissus bulbs has been demonstrated against Ehrlich ascites tumor and # 6C3HED solid lymphosarcoma cells in mice; Cytotoxic effect was studied for different part of the plant. |
4, 39, 152, 153, 154 |
| Nigella sativa | Black seed | Seeds ethanol extract possess antitumor activity in mice tumor primary cells; Thymoquinone, main active compound inhibited cell proliferation of many types of cancer cell lines i.e. breast, ovarian and human pancreatic adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, uterine sarcoma, human osteosarcoma, neoplastic keratinocytes and fibrosarcoma, lung carcinoma and suppression of, anti-apoptotic genes expression (e.g., IAP1, IAP2, XIAP Bcl-2, Bcl-xL), NF-kappa B activation pathway and thus enhances apoptosis induction |
155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 |
| Olea europaea | Olive | Hydroxytyrosol was found to induce apoptosis and arrest cell cycle progression at the G1 phase; Incidence of breast cancer was 70% less in rats group fed with olive oil; The oil extract was shown to reduce DNA damage (initiation), increase barrier function (promotion), and reduce cell invasion of surrounding tissue (metastasis); Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, major phenolic compound of olive oil, decreased cell viability, inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and may possibly be used to prevent cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin; Phenolic extract obtained from virgin olive oil was effective as antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducer in HL60 cells. |
165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172 |
| Peganum harmala | Harmala, Africa Rue | Harmane alkaloids present causes DNA topoisomerase inhibition; Harmine alkaloids present showed cytotoxicity against HL60 and K562 cell lines; Showed minor anticancer activity against several cell lines (human bladder carcinoma RT112, human laryngeal carcinoma Hep2 and human myelogenous leukemia K562); β-carboline compounds are inhibitors of cyclin dependent kinases; Alkaloids isolated from the plant exhibited antiproliferative activity in human gastric cancer cells MCG-803. |
4, 39, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177 |
| Pistacia Lentiscus | Mastic Tree | Anthocyanins extracted induces apoptosis in haepatocellular carcinoma; P. lentiscus inhibit proliferation and induce death of HCT116 human colon cancer cells in vitro; Increase cell membrane integrity in cultured PC12 and HepG2 cells; Fixed oil and phenolic extract of the plant demonstrated antiproliferative activity in BHK21 cancer cell lines. |
4, 39, 178, 179, 180, 181 |
| Punica granatum | Pomegranate | Fruit extract decreases proliferation and induced apoptosis of DU-145 prostate cancer cells and suppressed invasive potential of PC-3 cells; Showed significant inhibition of tumor growth in prostate tumor model mice; It is effective in inhibition of lung tumorigenesis in mice; Pomegranate inhibits inflammatory cell signaling in colon cancer; Peel and seeds oil have been shown to be effective against tumor cell proliferation, cell cycle, invasion and angiogenesis; Methanolic extract of peel and seeds exhibited antitumor activity in A549 (lung non small cell carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer cells), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells; Polypenolic-rich extracts of the non-edible parts of P. granatum induced apoptosis in human U266 multiple myeloma cells. |
182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192 |
| Quercus calliprinos | Palestine Oak | Fruit and bark decoction used for cancer treatment as Arab medicine | 4, 5, 7, 39 |
| Thymus vulgaris | Thyme | Exhibited cytotoxic effect against PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells; Demonstrated notable growth inhibition in leukemia cell lines. | 125, 148, 193 |
| Triticum aestivum | Wheat | Wheat bread can prevent colon tumorigenesis; Lignans (in wheat) are also thought to be involved in cancer prevention in mice probably by apoptotic mechanisms; Bioactive components i.e. vitamins, lignans, isoflavones, and phenolic acids act as antioxidants or via mechanisms related to inhibition of tumor progression; Demonstated antiproliferative activity in HCT 116 and A549 cancer cell lines; A phenolic compound in the plant Triticumoside demonstrated apoptosis in human lung cancer cells. |
194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199 |
| Zingiber officinal | Ginger | Exhibited cytotoxic effect against PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells; Studies reported the benefits of ginger supplementation in reducing risk of liver cancer and breast neoplasms. |
148, 200, 201, 202 |
| Urtica pilulifera | Stinging Nettle | Flavonoid glycosides were isolated showing high intracellular killing activity; The root extract are used in treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia; Leaves aqueous extract showed inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity in prostate cancer; Studies reported cytotoxic activity. |
4, 39, 203, 204, 205, 206 |
| Viscum cruciatum | Red-berry mistletoe | Hirsutanone isolated showed cytotoxicity against melanoma, renal and breast cells; Hexanoic extract showed cytotoxic effect against larynx HEp-2 cells; Mistletoe also showed anticancer activity against BJAB cells, with IC50 value of 14.21 μg/ml. |
4, 39, 137, 207, 208 |
| Vitis vinifera | Grapes | Exhibited cytotoxic effect against PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 cancer cells; Extracts isolated from the plant seeds and stems demonstrated antitumor activity in human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-23), colon (HT29), renal (786-0 and Caki-1), thyroid (K1), hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal human fibroblasts. | 148, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213 |