Anticancer activity of Adiantum capillus veneris and Pteris quadriureta L. in human breast cancer cell lines

Drug Delivery of Natural Products Through Nanocarriers for Effective Breast Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (BC), it remains a global health issue affecting millions of women annually. Poor prognosis in BC patients is often linked to drug resistance as well as the lack of effective therapeutic options for metastatic and triple-negative BC. In response to these unmet needs, extensive research efforts have been devoted to exploring the anti-BC potentials of natural products owing to their multi-target mechanisms of action and good safety profiles. Various medicinal plant extracts/essential oils and natural bioactive compounds have demonstrated anti-cancer activities in preclinical BC models. Despite the promising preclinical results, however, the clinical translation of natural products has often been hindered by their poor stability, aqueous solubility and bioavailability. There have been attempts to overcome these limitations, particularly via the use of nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs). This review highlights the tumour targeting mechanisms of NDDSs, the advantages and disadvantages of the major classes of NDDSs and their current clinical status in BC treatment. Besides, it also discusses the proposed anti-BC mechanisms and nanoformulations of nine medicinal plants' extracts/essential oils and nine natural bioactive compounds; selected via the screening of various scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, based on the following keywords: "Natural Product AND Nanoparticle AND Breast Cancer". Overall, these nanoformulations exhibit improved anti-cancer efficacy against preclinical BC models, with some demonstrating biocompatibility with normal cell lines and mouse models. Further clinical studies are, however, warranted to ascertain their efficacy and biocompatibility in humans.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

Phyto-synthesized Gold Nanoparticles as Antitumor Agents

BACKGROUND

Phyto, or plant-derived metal nanoparticles, are an interesting and intensive studied group of green synthesized nanoparticles. In the last decade, numerous medicinal plant extracts were used for the synthesis of stable gold or silver nanoparticles with diverse biological effects, such as antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, hypoglycemic effect, antitumor activity and catalytic activity.

RESULTS

This review has systematized and discussed information from the last 5 years about the research regarding antitumor/anticancer potential of gold nanoparticles obtained via medicinal plant extracts, with special attention on their selective cytotoxicity on tumor cells and on their mechanism of action, in vitro and in vivo assessments.

CONCLUSION

Much more in vivo and clinical studies are needed before considering phyto-synthesized gold nanoparticles as significant for future medicine.

A Review of Pharmacological Properties and Toxicological Effects of Adiantum capillus-veneris L

BACKGROUND

Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (Family: Pteridaceae) is a well-known safe medicinal herb used in traditional and modern medicine due to its beneficial pharmacological properties. The current study aimed to compile a review on phytochemicals, pharmacological properties and toxicological effects of this plant.

METHODS

An incisive search was conducted through electronic scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library using keyword 'Adiantum capillusveneris'. All related in vivo, in vitro, human (English papers), were selected from the beginning up to 1st January 2019. All letters, conference papers, papers dealing with genetics, agriculture, and pure phytochemistry of the herb were excluded.

RESULTS

A. capillus veneris revealed various pharmacological activities including the effects on the remodeling of lung alveolar epithelial cells in a hypoxic environment, anti-toxicity properties in liver and testes, anti-hyperglycemic, and wound healing effects in diabetic or non-diabetic patients, protection against damage to fibroblasts via free radicals, activity against testosteroneinduced alopecia, anticonvulsant, depressant, analgesic and anti-nociceptive activities, as well as effects on urinary output, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antilithiatic, hypothyroidism regulatory, anti-cancer, antidiarrheal and antispasmodic, anti-asthmatic and anti-histaminic, and enzyme inhibition (in Alzheimer's, diabetes and skin disorders) activities.

CONCLUSION

This plant can be used as a natural potent and safe agent to alleviate numerous medical symptoms and diseases due to its useful pharmacological properties. Thus, further researches are needed in order to compile the clinical effects of this plant via human studies.