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Pharmacology of Natural and Synthetic Phytoprotectants: Application and Consequences in Cancer Therapies

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Photoprotective Green Pharmacology: Challenges, Sources and Future Applications

Abstract

Cancer represents one of the most fatal health issues, claiming the lives of millions of people each year. Tumorous growths can develop in almost any portion of the body and migrate to different parts. There are numerous treatment approaches available for cancer such as radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and cancer vaccinations. However, in most cases, they have adverse side effects. Thus, anticancer medications with higher efficiency and fewer side effects are desperately needed. Plants are a prospective source of such compounds. Natural plant bioactive substances have been used in traditional medicine since the dawn of humanity. These metabolites have also been implicated in providing protection to plants under various environmental influences, such as the influence of UV-B. Plant-based natural secondary metabolites/phytochemicals and their derivatives have great potential in the suppression of cancer development and metastasis. These biologically active compounds can be isolated from various plant parts, such as leaves, stems, barks, flowers, rhizomes, roots, and seeds. The natural bioactive compounds produced by plants during secondary metabolism have great pharmacological importance, especially as anticancer agents. Therefore, this chapter is an attempt to summarize the importance of various plant-derived compounds and their mechanism of action, which can be used in cancer therapies as anticancer agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Morphogenesis, Centre of Advanced Study in Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Sneha Singh, Pajeb Saha, Nidhi Rai, Sabitri Kumari & Shashi Pandey-Rai

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  1. Sneha Singh
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  2. Pajeb Saha
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  3. Nidhi Rai
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  4. Sabitri Kumari
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  5. Shashi Pandey-Rai
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, MMV, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Vinod K. Kannaujiya

  2. Center of Advanced Study in Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Rajeshwar P. Sinha

  3. Department of Biotechnology, S. S. Khanna Girls’ Degree College, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Md. Akhlaqur Rahman

  4. Center of Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Shanthy Sundaram

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Singh, S., Saha, P., Rai, N., Kumari, S., Pandey-Rai, S. (2023). Pharmacology of Natural and Synthetic Phytoprotectants: Application and Consequences in Cancer Therapies. In: Kannaujiya, V.K., Sinha, R.P., Rahman, M.A., Sundaram, S. (eds) Photoprotective Green Pharmacology: Challenges, Sources and Future Applications. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0749-6_11

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