Abstract

BHALLATAKA (SEMECARPUS ANACARDIUM L.F.): BRIDGING CLASSICAL AYURVEDIC KNOWLEDGE AND CONTEMPORARY EVIDENCE ON ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

*Namdev Vanganekar, Sagar Ital

Abstract

Bhallataka (Semecarpus anacardium L.f.), a medicinal plant widely described in Ayurveda, has long been recognized as a potent but potentially toxic drug requiring careful purification before therapeutic use. Classical texts including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and later nighantus document its use in disorders characterized by abnormal growth, chronic inflammation, metabolic derangement, and tissue morbidity—disease frameworks that partially overlap with present-day oncologic concepts. In modern pharmacological research, S. anacardium has attracted sustained attention for its cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimetastatic effects. Experimental studies demonstrate activity in hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and lung cancer models. Mechanistic work suggests that Bhallatakaderived preparations and isolated compounds can induce apoptosis through mitochondrial depolarization, Bax/Bcl-2 modulation, cytochrome-c release, caspase activation, PARP cleavage, cell-cycle arrest, checkpoint kinase inhibition, suppression of migration, and modulation of oxidative stress and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Importantly, recent work indicates that traditional purification (shodhana) may not merely reduce toxicity but also improve pharmacological performance. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, the current evidence remains predominantly experimental, with limited human data and insufficient standardization of extracts, dose, and formulations. This review integrates classical Ayurvedic descriptions with PubMed-indexed and Scopus-indexed modern literature to critically evaluate the anticancer promise of Bhallataka, its mechanistic basis, safety concerns, and translational challenges.

Keywords: Bhallataka; Semecarpus anacardium; Ayurveda; anticancer activity; apoptosis; shodhana; ethnopharmacology; phytochemicals.