From tradition to therapy: Medicinal plants as cancer drug repositories

Traditional plants serve as a source of therapeutic products used in cancer treatment. By triggering signal transduction pathways, alkaloids, polyphenols, and other secondary metabolites present in plants can aid in the fight against cancer and the adverse effects of chemotherapy. Plant-based formulations showed strong topoisomerase-I inhibitory activity, stopping DNA replication and the cell cycle. Formulations of polyherbal components as anticancer drugs attract more attention from scientific and therapeutic industries as they address the major problems associated with drug-induced cytotoxicity. The review article discusses the possible mode of action of various potential phytochemicals isolated from traditional medicinal plants such as Betula utilis, Caesalpinia bonducella, Curcuma longa, and many other plants that are used as folklore medicinal plants. The review delves into the importance of plant metabolites in cancer control and thoroughly discusses their mode of action against molecular targets.