Abstract

GARLIC: A SOURCE OF HERBAL MEDICINES FOR CANCER THERAPY

Ravi Kant Upadhyay*

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of most powerful aromatic food plant which is used to alleviate a variety of health problems. Garlic derived sulfur compounds hold unique therapeutic potential which inhibit cell proliferation and oncogenesis by triggering cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. Garlic derivatives are antimutagenic which suppress tumor formation, finish neoplastic growth and prevent aberrant cell expansion by slowing progression of the cell cycle. Garlic based composite herbal nanomedicines/ formulations can target oxidants or pro-oxidants and activate proapoptotic proteins. Garlic based herbal products and targeted molecules can be recommended for clinical management of various cancer types i.e. colon cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer.

Keywords: Garlic, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, cancer therapy, traditional medicine