Menispermaceae members as sources of anticancer compounds

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major health problems in both developed and developing countries. Cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, are expensive and reported to have side effects. Many medicinal plants possess anticancer activity and act as rich source of medicines in cancer therapy. Pharmaceutical properties of medicinal plants are mainly attributed to the presence of several potential secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, quinones, tannins, saponins and sterols. Many active compounds from such groups of metabolites have resulted in the development of highly effective plant derived clinical drugs. Menispermaceae members of flowering plants are dioecious climbing plants. Majority of the members show wide distribution in tropical climates, and have long been used worldwide in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. Most species have been identified as a reservoir of bioactive metabolites with potent antipyretic, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antidepressant, antifertility, antiallergic, antiulcer, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory and antivenom activities.