Herbal Medicines as Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal growth of cells in body tissues that turn into cancer cells. Today, treatment for cancer can be done with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Some of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs are antimetabolites, DNA interactive compounds, antitubulin compounds, hormones, and molecular targeting compounds. Currently, many herbal plants are trusted by the public as anticancer drugs, as shown by several studies and the availability of herbal plants is relatively easier to find by the public. In addition, medicine from plants Herbs can also be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. This review will discuss about herbal plants that can be used as anticancer. The results of the review show that the use of herbal plants or natural ingredients in cancer therapy has an effect by various mechanisms such as suppressing cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, slowing metastasis, without reducing the quality of life of cancer patients.