Cancer is still a disease that many people fear. Cancer patients frequently
have side effects from chemo- and radiotherapy that lower their quality of life and may
force them to stop receiving their treatment. For centuries, people have employed
natural products, particularly plants, to heal a wide range of illnesses. Powerful
bioactive compounds that are produced from plants can be employed as medications.
The uniqueness and potency of anticancer therapeutic medicines originating from
plants are now being explored in research studies. Using sophisticated analytical
techniques, the healthcare industry is attempting to comprehend the physio-chemical
characteristics of these plant derived compounds and their contributions to the
treatment of cancer. Some of these compounds are thought to be candidates for use as
chemopreventive medicines and may even be combined with traditional chemotherapy
in certain circumstances. The purpose of this book chapter is to highlight important
plant derived compounds, their properties, mechanism of action and ongoing clinical
trials for cancer prevention and treatment. The suitability and lethality of medicinal and
herbal plants are a subject of considerable debate despite their many powerful benefits.
Here, we discuss advantages, limitations and current status of recruiting plant derived
compounds as chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic drugs.
Keywords: 3, 3'-diindolylmethane, Anthocyanin, Anticancer, Beta-carotene, Cancer treatment, Cancer, Chemoprevention, Chemotherapy, Clinical studies, Drug discovery, Plant derived compounds.
