Plants as a source of anti-cancer agents

J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Aug 22;100(1-2):72-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.05.011.

Abstract

Plant-derived compounds have been an important source of several clinically useful anti-cancer agents. These include vinblastine, vincristine, the camptothecin derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan, etoposide, derived from epipodophyllotoxin, and paclitaxel (taxol A number of promising new agents are in clinical development based on selective activity against cancer-related molecular targets, including flavopiridol and combretastin A4 phosphate, while some agents which failed in earlier clinical studies are stimulating renewed interest.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic