Antimetastatic plants in siddha system of medicine

Abstract

Siddha system of medicine is a traditional system practiced in South India. The plant based formulations as well as plant derived phytochemicals possessing therapeutic potential have drawn considerable attention in recent years. Cancer is one of the major Non-Communicable Disease and remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. As a number of undesired side effects occur during chemotherapy, natural therapies involving the plant derived products are used in cancer treatment, may reduce adverse side effects. A plethora of many plant products that has shown very promising anticancer activity in vitro, but have yet to be evaluated in clinical trials. Prominently using anticancer plants in Siddha medicine include Plumbago indica, Taxus baccata, Asparagus racemosa, Glycyrriza glaba and Ocimum gratissimum. The compound formulations or single drugs in Siddha literature shall be subjected to retrospective analysis for the exploration of scientific background behind the therapeutic aspects.