chat icon

WhatsApp Expert

Book Free Consult

Herbal Extracts Used in Breast Cancer

Herbal Extracts Used in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In the United Kingdom, one out of every nine women will have this condition over her lifetime. Gender, food, alcohol usage, bodily movement, family history, lifestyle, and endocrine components, both exogenous and endogenous, are all linked to breast cancer. Other major factors that contribute to breast cancer include past benign conditions and mammographic density. However, it is still unclear which component plays the most important role in the aetiology of breast cancer. As a result, breast cancer has become the second leading cause of mortality in women. Plant-derived chemotherapeutic medicines, including fruits, leaves, flowers, lichens, and fungi, are utilized to treat the disease.

The botanical term "herb" refers to plants that produce fruits, and seeds, and have nonwoody stems. These plants and herbs have played a critical part in human health maintenance. Cancer is described as the uncontrolled division of cells in our body, which leads to death. Cancer cells damage healthy cells in the body. Unevenness in the body can cause cancer, which can be addressed by reducing the discrepancy. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on research to figure out what cancer is. Millions of individuals die as a result of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, cancer is responsible for 2–3% of annual fatalities worldwide. As a result, over 3500 million people die each year from cancer around the world.

Some typical herbs used for the treatment of breast cancer around the world

 Echinacea

Echinacea is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is an uninhabited aromatic plant that grows primarily in North America's Great Plains and eastern regions, as well as in Europe. Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida are the three most frequent species used in herbal medicines. However, E. purpurea is the most often employed species for research and treatment. Purple coneflower, Kansas snakeroot, and black Sampson are some common names associated with Echinacea. Researchers discovered that E. purpurea increases the number of natural killer cells in mice under study. In the future, E. purpurea could be used as an anti-cancer treatment.

Also Read: Treatments For Breast Cancer

Echinacea contains flavonoids, which act as immunological stimulants. Flavonoids promote lymphocyte activity, which increases macrophage phagocytosis and the action of natural killer cells, prompting interferon assembly, and it has also lessened the harmful effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, according to Winston et al. Flavonoids promote lymphocyte activity, which increases phagocytosis by macrophages and the action of natural killer cells, prompting interferon assembly, and it has also lessened the harmful effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, according to Winston et al, It also aids patients in extending their survival period as their cancer progresses. Commercial formulations of Echinacea juice have been found to boost macrophage cytokine production. T-cell and B-cell 7 activation and propagation have less apparent consequences. Several Echinacea components are shown to exhibit a role in the immune system.

breast cancer
Echinacea

Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used to treat a variety of ailments for hundreds of years. It involves a hundred or more therapeutically beneficial secondary metabolites, such as alliin, alliinase, and allicin, to name a few. Garlic oil contains allicin, an amino acid that is converted to allicin after the rhizomes are crumpled. Allicin, which is responsible for odour and medicinal effects, is an originator of sulfur-containing compounds. Ajoene, a sulfur-binding compound found in garlic oil, is another sulfur-binding substance. While selenium acts as an antioxidant, ajoene slows the progression of cancer. Garlic also contains bioflavonoids such as cyanidin and quercetin, which have antioxidant effects. Garlic's anti-cancer properties are attributable to its high content of organic sulfides and polysulfides. The mechanism behind anti-tumour activity boosting lymphocytes and macrophages is that they attack malignant cells and disrupt the metabolism of tumour cells. studies have shown that the number of suppressor T cells is increased by garlic and converts the lymphocytes in that form which is cytotoxic to cancerous cells.

Metastasis is prevented by altering the adhesion and attachment of cancerous cells, circulating in the blood vessels. Harmful effects of carcinogens on DNA are prevented by ripened garlic extract; it improves the immune system of the body, increases the removal of carcinogens from the body, and enhances the detoxifying enzyme’s activity. Researchers have found that the ripened extract of garlic is also helpful to shield the propagation of several types of cancers such as colon cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. Complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy could be lessened with garlic extract.

breast cancer
Garlic

Turmeric

Curcuma longa is the scientific name for turmeric. Turmeric gives food a dark yellow colour. Turmeric's key element, curcumin, is found in the rhizome and rootstock. Curcumin's phenolic compounds are recognized to have anticancer properties. Turmeric inhibits the spread of lung cancers, breast cancers, skin cancers, and stomach cancers.

Turmeric

Carotenoids

Green, a herb with leaf, rose hips contain an active component known as "carotenoids." Saffron, annatto, and paprika are examples of aromatic plants that are employed as dyeing agents. Vegetable and fruit consumption has been associated with decreased tumour growth in various forms. Dietary intake of carotenoids also lowers the risk of tumour development. Carotenoid substances are powerful antioxidants with a wide range of therapeutic properties, including scavenging free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative damage, improving gap intersections, stimulating the immune system, and regulating enzyme activity, all of which contribute to cancer production and activation.

Also Read: Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables

Ginseng

Panax ginseng is the scientific name for ginseng. It is a long-lived plant that grows primarily in China, Korea, Japan, and Russia. The dried root of this plant is used. It can be used to treat a variety of ailments, including cancer. Ginseng's active ingredients have been proven to diminish or block the generation of tumour necrosis factors in mouse skin, block the propagation and metastasis of malignant cells, induce cell differentiation, and increase interferon levels. Other types of malignant cells may also be hampered by the chemicals in ginseng. In addition, a study conducted in Korea concluded that ginseng reduced the incidence of cancer in humans. The most potent form of ginseng is fresh sliced ginseng, its juice, or tea.

Ginseng

Black cohosh

Cimicifuga recemosa is the scientific name for black cohosh. It's a shrub that grows in North America's eastern woods. Black cohosh was most typically utilized by breast cancer patients during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It has been used by Native Americans to alleviate menopausal symptoms, premenstrual discomfort, and dysmenorrhea. It also causes issues similar to abortion. A medication with a patent Lydia Pinkham's Vegetable Compound was well-known, and this plant was a key ingredient in it. It was also discovered in pharmacopoeia in the 19th century. In drug stores, you can get a wide variety of black cohosh preparations. Herbalists have proven their worth

black cohosh

 Flaxseed

Small brown and golden hard-coated seeds are produced by the flax plant. All of the active ingredients are included in these tiny seeds. Flax seeds are high in dietary fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and lignans, all of which are beneficial to your health. The conversion of lignans to enterodiol and enterolactone, which happens in the digestive tract, results in estrogenic action in flax seeds. Flax seeds have stronger phytoestrogens than soy products, and eating flax seeds induces a significant change in 2-hydoxyesterone elimination compared to soy protein. Ground flax seeds have been demonstrated to have potent anti-cancer activity by Lilian Thompson's research group at the University of Toronto. Mice were used in the experiment.

breast cancer
Flaxseed

vitamin D

Skin contact with the sun produces vitamin D. In the summer, simple contact of hands, arms, and face produces a large amount of vitamin D. Standing in the sun on the beach until the skin turns pink is equivalent to a 20,000 IU vitamin D2 oral dose. To maintain a healthy quantity of vitamins, our bodies only require 1000 IU every day. In the absence of sunlight, oral vitamin D absorption is the only way to keep your levels up. 4000 IU can be taken safely in one day while also providing other benefits. The kidneys are in charge of keeping the active hormonal form of vitamin D in the blood. This active form of vitamin D has anti-cancer properties.

breast cancer
Vector poster products with vitamin D.

Elevate Your Journey with Integrative Oncology

For personalized guidance on cancer treatments and complementary therapies, consult our experts at ZenOnco.io or call +91 9930709000

Reference:

  1. McGrowder DA, Miller FG, Nwokocha CR, Anderson MS, Wilson-Clarke C, Vaz K, Anderson-Jackson L, Brown J. Medicinal Herbs Used in Traditional Management of Breast Cancer: Mechanisms of Action. Medicines (Basel). 2020 Aug 14;7(8):47. doi: 10.3390/medicines7080047. PMID: 32823812; PMCID: PMC7460502.
  2. Shareef M, Ashraf MA, Sarfraz M. Natural cures for breast cancer treatment. Saudi Pharm J. 2016 May;24(3):233-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2016.04.018. Epub 2016 May 5. PMID: 27275107; PMCID: PMC4881189.
Related Articles
If you haven't found what you were looking for, we're here to help. Contact ZenOnco.io at [email protected] or call +91 99 3070 9000 for anything you might need.