Dr Vikas Sharma
Cancer is a deadly disease, responsible for 2-3% deaths worldwide annually. There were 10.9 million new cases, 6.7 million deaths and 24.6 million persons living with cancer around the world in 2002. In women, breast cancer is most widespread and its incidence in Pakistan is reported highest among South-Central Asian countries. About 7.6 million people died due to cancer in the world during 2007. According to World Health Organization’s recent estimate, the cumulative death toll due to cancer will be 12 million by 2030. A total of 16, 38, 910 new cancer cases and 5, 77,190 deaths from cancer occured in United States in 2012. In India, around 5, 55,000 people died of cancer in 2010. Cancer cases related deaths on rise in J&K during past four years with the total of 11,815 cancer cases and 5,198 mortality cases have been reported in the state during the current year. Cancer has remained a major cause of death and the number of individuals living with cancer is continuing to expand, but most of the drugs used in cancer chemotherapy exhibit cell toxicity and can induce genotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects in non tumor cells. Despite the recent advances in surgery, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it is considered that the management of cancer is still not up to the mark and we are in emergent need of drugs for the treatment of cancer having no side effects. Therefore, the research for alternative drugs of natural origin, which are less toxic, endowed with fewer side effects and more potent in their mechanism of action, is an important research line.
Traditional medicine refers to the application, approach, knowledge and belief in incorporating plant based properties in remedies, singularly or in combination, for the purpose of treating or preventing disease as well as to maintain the well-being of an individual. About 80% of the world population relies on the use of traditional medicine, which is predominantly based on plant material. Natural products or related substances or extracts of folk medicine accounted for 30% of the top 35 worldwide natural product-based drugs sold. As has been estimated that > 50% of all patients diagnosed with cancer explore complementary and alternative medicine – especially herbal medicine. Current evidence suggests that garlic, green tea, tomatoes and soy intake as part of the diet may be useful in preventing various cancers. A number of exciting researches suggest that vegetables, fruits, whole grains, herbs, nuts and seeds contain an abundance of polyphenolic compounds, terpenoids, sulphur compounds, pigments and other natural antioxidants, that have been associated with protection from or treatment of conditions such as cancer.. The foods and herbs reported to have highest anti-cancer activity include garlic, soybeans, cabbage, ginger, licorice root and the umbelliferous vegetables.
Therefore, we can say that medicinal plants have played a key role in world health. Plants have been a prime source of highly effective conventional drugs for the treatment of many forms of cancer. Out of total 250,000 plant species existing on earth approximately one thousand have anticancer potential. A large number of plant species have been screened through bioassays for search of novel plant based anticancer drugs. Taxol is the latest addition of anticancer drugs from a crude extract of Taxus brevifolia and as a single chemotherapeutic agent, has been proven effective against a variety of tumors including breast, bladder, esophageal, head and neck, ovarian and lung carcinomas. So, natural products from a number of medicinal plants offer new sources of drugs, but there are still a large number of medicinal plants in which all the active constituents have not yet been fully investigated. Therefore, efforts are still being made for the search of effective naturally occurring anticarcinogens that would prevent, slow or reverse cancer development.
The JAMMU DIVISION has great botanical diversity and widespread use of traditional medicine practice known as ayurvedic medicine, however, only a relatively small number of Jammu botanicals have been subjected to accepted scientific evaluation for their potential anticancer effects. Thus, medicinal plants of Jammu region have real significance and there is a need to explore them for anticancer properties. The research is going on in the Division of Biochemistry and Plant Physiology, SKUAST-Jammu in collaboration with Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM-CSIR), Jammu to find out the Jammu botanicals that possess anticancer potential and can further be used for the management of cancer.The major traditional medicinal plants of Jammu region that were tested for their anticancer efficiency and suppressed the proliferation of various cancer cells from different origins are as under:
* Mentha arvensis locally/commonly known as pudina
* Momordica charantia locally/commonly known as karela
* Murraya koengii locally/commonly known as kari patta
* Ocimum sanctum locally/commonly known as tulsi
* Zingiber officinale locally/commonly known as adrak
Pudina, commonly consumed as spice, is an erect and branched aromatic herb, upto 60cm in height and grows in Jammu and Kashmir at heights from 300-1200m and the whole plant is used in vast range of diseases like abdominal pain, vomiting, cough, loss of appetite, menstrual disorders, pain in joints and in diseases of liver, spleen and asthma The whole plant of Mentha arvensis showed its anticancer effect against colon, lung and breast cancer cells as it inhibited the growth of these cancer cells in the range from 76-86%. Karela, commonly consumed as vegetable, is widely cultivated throughout Jammu region and extensively used in folk medicines as a remedy for diabetes, specifically in India and China. In Jammu, various medicinal properties are claimed for Momordica charantia that include antidiabetic, contraceptive, antimalarial and is used for treatment of gout, jaundice, kidney (stone), leprosy, piles, pneumonia, rheumatism, scabies. Most significant results, that is strong antiproliferative effect on a range of human cancer cells was displayed by this particular vegetable as it was observed to be most cytotoxic to breast, colon and lung cancer cells and the growth inhibition range was between 97-100%. Curry leaf / kari patta is an aromatic shrub, commonly consumed as spice and found almost throughout Jammu plains and is one such plant which is reported as tonic and used in various disease conditions in Jammu. The traditional medical literature describes its potential role as a remedy for cancer. The leaves of the plant possess anti-diabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The leaves of this pant were evaluated and showed anticancer activity against breast, colon and lung cancer cells in the range from 89-100%. Tulsi grows all over J&K in houses, temples and gardens. It has vast number of therapeutic applications such as in cardiopathy, haemopathy, leucoderma, asthma, bronchitis, fever, vomiting, gastropathy, genitourinary disorders, ringworm and skin diseases. It is a good blood purifier and is helpful in the diseases of the blood and heart. The leaves of tulsi have great medicinal value as it increases the appetite and improves digestion. The paste of its leaves hastens the healing of chronic infected wounds. Leaves, when chewed, mitigate the infection of the gums. A tea prepared with the leaves of tulsi is a common domestic remedy for cold cough, mild indigestion and diminished appetite. Instillation of fresh juice of the leaves into ear is an effective domestic medicament for ear aches. Tulsi juice digests and destroy the toxins. The leaves of tulsi were tested for anticancer potential and showed anticancer activity against lung and liver cancer cells in the range from 73-78%. Adarak is a perennial herb, widely grown all over Jammu up to 90 cm in height with a large, solid, tough, horizontal rhizome. It is rewarding in many diseases like anorexia, nausea, asthma, and heart. Hot adarak tea is of special benefit in bringing on a delayed menstrual period and in relieving menstrual cramps. Juice of adaraka alleviates vomiting. For the relief from colds and coughs, it is applied on the forehead or chest as a paste. Several pharmacological activities including anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial have been reported. The rhizome of the adarak collected from Jammu region has been evaluated against various cancer cells and it has been found that the plant possesses cytotoxic potential against lung and colon cancer cells in between the range of 71-74%.
Thus, on the basis of present analysis, it is suggested that we should encourage the consumption of above mentioned spices/vegetables in our daily meals so as to avoid the risk of this deadly disease. Therefore, we can say that Jammu botanicals possess cytotoxic potential against breast, colon, liver and lung cancer cells and further the research is going on in SKUAST-Jammu for the isolation of active ingredient(s) that will surely serve as lead molecule (s) in the development of anticancer drugs to provide a great promise and service to cancer patients.
(The author is Assistant Professor (Biochemsitry) SKUAST-JAMMU, Main Campus Chatha)
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