Plants that Fight Cancer, Second Edition, is a compilation that reviews cancer treatment and research-based information on the plant kingdom as the source of both known and novel chemical moieties and mixtures, many of them still under identification. This new edition follows the organization of the first book with a considerable expansion of content that more than doubles the volume of information. Divided into four segments, the first part is dedicated to a review of our current knowledge of cancer, the different types and incidence, the molecular pathways of the disease, and the various treatment protocols, with an emphasis on chemotherapy. The second part is a brief journey in pharmacognosy, with detailed information about each of the fourteen different chemical groups of plant secondary metabolites, their use in cancer chemotherapy, and updated information on the biotechnological production of the most representative compounds in clinical practice. The third part of the book comprises six chapters dedicated to either plant chemotherapeutical approaches to specific cancer types (e.g. bladder, prostate) or specific groups of plant secondary metabolites with novel and promising properties for cancer treatment (e.g. naphthoquinones, lectins, phenanthridone alkaloids). The fourth part, containing investigative information on almost 300 individual plant species with established anticancer properties, either on a clinical or in vitro level, is with no doubt the most analytical. This new edition contains chapters on cytotoxic phenanthridone alkaloid constituents of the Amaryllidaceae; naphthoquinone-contained anticancer terrestrial plants; polyphenols and cancer immunology; medicinal plant product-based fabrication nanoparticles (Au and Ag) and their anticancer effects; bladder and prostate cancer; and plant lectins in cancer treatment. FEATURES • Provides efficient information for all kinds of cancer and plant chemotherapeutical approaches to specific cancer types • Discusses specific groups of plant secondary metabolites with novel and promising properties for cancer treatment • Provides scientific information for medicinal uses of various plants • Contains analytical information on almost 300 individual plant species with established anticancer properties, either on a clinical or in vitro level • Focuses on plant genera and species that are either already used in cancer chemotherapy or have been identified with antitumor and antileukemic properties to a bigger or lesser extent

Cancer is one of the leading death cause of human population increasingly seen in recent times. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since immemorial times. Though, several synthetic medicines are useful in treating cancer, they are inefficient and unsafe. However, plants have proved to be useful in cancer cure. Moreover, natural compounds from plants and their derivatives are safe and effective in treatment and management of several cancer types. The anticancer plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their significance in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases. Nowadays, several well-known anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants. Many of them are used effectively to combat cancer and other related diseases. The herbal medicine and their products are the most suitable and safe to be used as an alternative medicine. Based on their traditional uses and experimental evidences, the anticancer products or compounds are isolated or extracted from the medicinally important plants. Many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless harvesting in nature. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them in large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology can be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without cultivation. The proper knowledge and exploration of these isolated molecules or products could provide an alternative source to reduce cancer risk, anti-tumorigenic properties, and suppression of carcinogen activities. Anticancer plants: Volume 1, Properties and Application is a very timely effort in this direction. Discussing the various types of anticancer plants as a source of curative agent, their pharmacological and neutraceutical properties, cryo-preservations and recent trends to understand the basic cause and consequences involved in the diseases diagnosis. We acknowledge the publisher, Springer for their continuous inspiration and valuable suggestions to improvise the content of this book. We further extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our book contributors for their support, and assistance to complete this assignment. I am sure that these books will benefit the scientific communities including academics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and medical practitioners.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states has caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular ef

Cancer is the scourge of our age. More than any other disease, cancer has captured our fears and projected despair throughout society. Our bodies have become the experimental "real life" testing grounds for countless chemical toxins, pollutants, refined foods and stresses. These toxins are clearly exerting their effect in the rise of numerous forms of cancer striking every part of our bodies. The medical profession is attempting to attack these cancers with every available form of chemical, radiation, and invasive surgery. While modern medicine has long recognized the healing potential of herbs (some of the most commonly used cancer medicines were originally developed from herbs), we have been indoctrinated to believe that surgery, radiation and chemical therapies are the only successful procedures, even though they tend to fail much of the time and may actually destroy the quality of life to such a degree that many believe the "cure" is wors than the disease. There is another approach to the treatment of cancer. Finding cancer's root causes and applying a holistic understanding of lifestyle, diet, stress-reduction and appropriate nutritional and herbal support can strengthen the body and its immune system, restore the spirit and balance the psyche of the cancer patient. With this integrative approach, a healthy mental and emotional balance joins a healthy approach to life to truly treat cancer. Not every cancer patient is "cured," but every patient is brought to a state of understanding which in many cases leads to what appear to be miraculous remissions. In other cases, it allows the individual to experience a quality of life and passing uncommon in our society: the ability to face life and death with dignity and a sense of completion. Book jacket.

Herbs Against Cancer is a comprehensive and indispensable guide to the use of herbs in preventing and treating cancer.

This book provides detailed information on the various types of cancer, etiology, effects, and challenges associated with current cancer treatment regimes. The present edition has been written to reflect recent developments, success rates and lacunae in herbal and modern cancer therapies. It also describes the use of several herbal formulations to boost patients’ immunity, in order to prevent or help them cope with several cancers. The book highlights several herbs/shrubs/trees that have been reported to possess anti-cancer properties, paving the way for in-depth research into the dose standardization and efficacy of plant-based bioactive molecules. It also focuses on the sustainable conservation of medicinal flora, so that, in future, novel biomolecules be extracted and made available for the treatment of various cancers. Given its highly relevant content, the book will benefit the entire cancer research community (students, scientists, pharmacists, herbalists and lecturers) at universities, research institutions and industry in the areas of oncology, herbal cancer therapy, biotechnology, drug discovery, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and various disciplines of the biomedical sciences.

This book is focused on clarifying the anticancer effects (i.e., apoptotic, antiproliferative, antimetastatic, antiangiogenic) and mechanisms of most of the medicinal plants found in the world against solid and/or hematological cancers.