The potential of phytotherapy in oncology: a review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14450/2318-9312.v37.e1.a2025.pp6-14Keywords:
Phytotherapy, Cancer, Medicinal Plants, Phytochemicals, complementary therapiesAbstract
Cancer still leads the world as a mortality and morbidity ratio. Conventional treatments are constantly used, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgeries, however, there are adverse effects, phytotherapy is characterized by the study of medicinal plants and their potential use. In this context, this study aims to verify in the literature the use of herbal medicines in oncology and mechanisms of action. This is an integrative literature review with the purpose of verifying in the literature the guiding theme: the use of herbal medicines in oncology. The database used for the research was: Medline (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online). The descriptors used for the search were based on the Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCs), namely: "Oncology" and "Phytotherapy". Among the articles researched, only 8 met the criteria established for the study. Among the main pharmacological components mentioned in the articles and with antitumor activity are: Resveratrol, Cannabidiol, Flavanol Glycosides, Gingerol and Curcumin. It was possible to verify that there is a diversity of medicinal plants that can be used in oncology, as well as it was also demonstrated that bioactive products such as Resveratrol, Cannabidiol, Flavanol Glycosides, Gingerol and Curcumin have antitumor activities.
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