Plant-Based Approaches to Cancer Prevention and Treatment: A Holistic Perspective: Review Article

Daigo Hirao

doi:10.58372/2835-6276.1241

Authors

Daigo Hirao

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58372/2835-6276.1241

Keywords:

Cancer, Phytochemicals, Bioactive Compounds, Anti-inflammatory, Polyphenols, Holistic Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, significantly impacted by lifestyle choices and environmental factors. Conventional cancer treatments, while effective in many cases, often come with substantial side effects, emphasizing the need for alternative or complementary approaches. This review explores plant-based therapies as a holistic alternative, focusing on bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and phytochemicals for their anticancer properties. Challenges like bioavailability and limited clinical translation of these compounds are also discussed. The review underscores the potential of integrating plant-based strategies to enhance cancer prevention and treatment, advocating for further research to address existing limitations and optimize their application in clinical settings.

References

Certis Oncology . (2024). Cancer Facts. Retrieved from Certis Oncology : https://www.certisoncology.com/resources/cancer-market-facts/

Roche. (n.d.). 9 things you may not know about cancer. Retrieved from Roche: https://www.roche.com/stories/9-things-about-cancer

World Cancer Day. (2024). What is cancer? Retrieved from World Cancer Day: https://www.worldcancerday.org/about/what-cancer

nature cancer. (2020, January 13). The global challenge of cancer. Retrieved from nature cancer: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-019-0023-9

Medline Plus. (2024). Cancer Alternative Therapies. Retrieved from Medline Plus: https://medlineplus.gov/canceralternativetherapies.html

Cancer Research UK. (2022, April 13). The safety of complementary and alternative therapies. Retrieved from Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/complementary-alternative-therapies/about/safety

Shmerling, R. (2019, February 1). Alternative therapies for cancer. Retrieved from Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/alternative-therapies-for-cancer-2019020115888

Livingstone, T., Beasy, G., Mills, R., Plumb, J., Needs, P., Mithen, R., & Traka, M. (2019, September 18). Plant Bioactives and the Prevention of Prostate Cancer: Evidence from Human Studies. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6769996/#sec2-nutrients-11-02245

Marti, R., Rosello, S., & Cebolla-Cornejo, J. (2016, June 20). Tomato as a Source of Carotenoids and Polyphenols Targeted to Cancer Prevention. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/8/6/58

Molina-Montes, E., Salamanca-Fernández, E., Garcia-Villanova, B., & Sanchez, M. (2020, July 06). The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer-Related Outcomes: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/7/2010

Dattani, S., Samborska, V., Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2023). Cancer. Retrieved from Our World In Data: https://ourworldindata.org/cancer

Singh, D., Vignat, J., Lorenzoni, V., Eslahi, M., Ginsburg, O., Lauby-Secretan, B., . . . Vaccarella, S. (2023, February). Global estimates of incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in 2020: a baseline analysis of the WHO Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative. Retrieved from The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(22)00501-0/fulltext

National Cancer Institute. (2021). What Is Cancer? Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Bouillon, R., Marcocci, C., Carmeliet, G., Bikle, D., White, J., Dawson-Hughes, B., . . . Bilezikian, J. (2019, August). Skeletal and Extraskeletal Actions of Vitamin D: Current Evidence and Outstanding Questions . Retrieved from Endocrine Reviews: https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/40/4/1109/5126915

National Cancer Institute. (2024, August). The Genetics of Cancer. Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics

World Cancer Research Fund. (2022). Global cancer data by country. Retrieved from World Cancer Research Fund: https://www.wcrf.org/preventing-cancer/cancer-statistics/global-cancer-data-by-country/

National Cancer Institute. (2024). Cancer Stat Facts: Common Cancer Sites. Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html#comparison

Medical News Today. (2024, January 24). What to know about cancer. Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323648

Freeborn, J. (2024, February). An estimated 35 million new cancer cases to occur in 2050, WHO warns. Retrieved from Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/an-estimated-35-million-new-cancer-cases-to-occur-in-2050-who-warns

Ansari, K., & Jha, A. (2022, September). Causes of Cancer in the World: Comparative Risk Assessment of Nine Behavioral and Environmental Risk Factors. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9540511/#sec2

Davis, C. (2023, October 10). Cancer. Retrieved from MedicineNet: https://www.medicinenet.com/cancer/article.htm

National Cancer Institute. (2024, November 8). Surgery to Treat Cancer. Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/surgery

Qu, Z. (2023, January). Investigating Conventional and Novel Methods for Treatment of Cancer. Retrieved from Digital Library: https://dl.acm.org/doi/fullHtml/10.1145/3586139.3586154

Behranvand, N., Nasri, F., Emameh, R., Khani, P., Hosseini, A., Garssen, J., & Falak, R. (2021, August 5). Chemotherapy: a double-edged sword in cancer treatment. Retrieved from SPRINGER NATURE Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00262-021-03013-3

National Cancer Institute. (2022, August 22). Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer. Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/chemotherapy#top

Vlasov, A. (2023, April 17). What is Radiation Therapy? Retrieved from IAEA.org: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-radiation-therapy

Wang, S., Prizment, A., Thyagarajan, B., & Blaes, A. (2021, January 23). Cancer treatment-induced accelerated aging in cancer survivors: biology and assessment. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/3/427

Nonnekens, J., & Hoeijmakers, J. (2016, November 16). After surviving cancer, what about late life effects of the cure? Retrieved from EMBO Molecular Medicine: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/emmm.201607062

Małyszko, J., Kozłowska, K., Kozłowski, L., & Małyszko, J. (2016, October 06). Nephrotoxicity of anticancer treatment. Retrieved from Oxford Academic: https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article/32/6/924/3059468

Nicolaysen, A. (2020, January). Nephrotoxic chemotherapy agents: old and new. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1548559519301454

Grigorian, A., & O'Brien, C. (2014, June). Hepatotoxicity secondary to chemotherapy. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4521265/

van den Boogaard, W., Komninos, D., & Vermeij, W. (2022, January 26). Chemotherapy side-effects: not all DNA damage is equal. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/3/627

Brook, I. (2020, June). Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7533405/

Elmore, L., Greer, S., Daniels, E., Saxe, C., Melner, M., Krawiec, G., . . . Phelps, W. (2020, December 16). Blueprint for cancer research: Critical gaps and opportunities. Retrieved from American Cancer Society Journals: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21652

Gaesser, G. (2020, December 7). Whole Grains, Refined Grains, and Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7762239/#:~:text=For%20total%20cancer%20mortality%2C%207,15%20to%2090%20g%2Fday.

Kamal, N., Ilowefah, M., Hilles, A., Anua, N., Awin, T., Alshwyeh, H., . . . Mediani, A. (2022, March 9). Genesis and Mechanism of Some Cancer Types and an Overview on the Role of Diet and Nutrition in Cancer Prevention. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/6/1794

Yuan, M., Zhang, G., Bai, W., Han, X., Li, C., & Bian, S. (2022, February 15). The Role of Bioactive Compounds in Natural Products Extracted from Plants in Cancer Treatment and Their Mechanisms Related to Anticancer Effects. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2022/1429869

Yu, X., Jaskula-Sztul, R., Ahmed, K., Harrison, A., Kunnimalaiyaan, M., & Chen, H. (2013, July 1). Resveratrol induces differentiation markers expression in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma via activation of Notch1 signaling and suppresses cell growth. Retrieved from American Association for Cancer Research: https://aacrjournals.org/mct/article/12/7/1276/91674/Resveratrol-Induces-Differentiation-Markers

Kaczmarzyk, I., Nowak-Perlak, M., & Wozniak, M. (2024, April 18). Promising Approaches in Plant-Based Therapies for Thyroid Cancer: An Overview of In Vitro, In Vivo, and Clinical Trial Studies. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/8/4463

Asma, S., Acaroz, U., Imre, K., Morar, A., Shah, S., Hussain, S., . . . Ince, S. (2022, December 15). Natural Products/Bioactive Compounds as a Source of Anticancer Drugs. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/24/6203

Shah, U., & Iyengar, N. (2022, August 1). Plant-Based and Ketogenic Diets As Diverging Paths to Address Cancer A Review. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10184023/

Weinberg, J. (2024, January 2). Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Chronic Inflammation Reduction. Retrieved from RUPA Health: https://www.rupahealth.com/post/impact-of-plant-based-diets-on-chronic-inflammation-reduction#:~:text=Plant%20foods%20are%20rich%20in,modulate%20inflammatory%20and%20immunological%20processes.

Melina, V., Craig, W., & Levin, S. (2016, December). Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: vegetarian diets. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212267216311923

Sidhu, S., Kok, C. K., & Ramadas, A. (2023, March 21). Effect of Plant-Based Diets on Gut Microbiota: A Systematic Review of Interventional Studies. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10057430/

García-Caballero, M., Torres-Vargas, J., Marrero, A., Martínez-Poveda, B., Medina, M., & Quesada, A. (2022, January 21). Angioprevention of Urologic Cancers by Plant-Derived Foods. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/256

Dutta, B. (2015, August 20). Study of secondary metabolite constituents and curcumin contents of six different species of genus Curcuma. Retrieved from Plants Journal: https://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2015/vol3issue5/PartB/3-5-10.pdf

Zoi, V., Galani, V., Lianos, G., Voulgaris, S., Kyritsis, A., & Alexiou, G. (2021, August 26). The Role of Curcumin in Cancer Treatment. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8464730/

Choi, Y. (2017, October). Diallyl trisulfide induces apoptosis and mitotic arrest in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells through reactive oxygen species-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0753332217320784

Wang, Y., Huang, P., Wu, Y., Liu, D., Ji, M., Li, H., & Wang, Y. (2022, February 17). Association and mechanism of garlic consumption with gastrointestinal cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8867184/#sec16

Shahbaz, M., Naeem, H., Batool, M. I., Hussain, M., Mujtaba, A., Alsagaby, S., . . . Jbawi, E. (2024, July 9). Antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potential of Moringa seed and Moringa seed oil: A comprehensive approach. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fsn3.4312

Yuan, J.-M. (2013, October 30). Cancer prevention by green tea: evidence from epidemiologic studies. Retrieved from PubMed Central:

Salehi, B., Mishra, A., Nigam, M., Sener, B., Kilic, M., Sharifi-Rad, M., . . . Sharifi-Rad, J. (2018, September 9). Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits. Retrieved from MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/6/3/91

Jang, J., Im, E., & Kim, N. (2022, November). Mechanism of Resveratrol-Induced Programmed Cell Death and New Drug Discovery against Cancer: A Review. Retrieved from PubMed Central:

Manirakiza, A., Irakoze, L., & Manirakiza, S. (2021, June 11). Aloe and its Effects on Cancer: A Narrative Literature Review. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8291210/

Macharia, J., Mwangi, R., Rozmann, N., Wagara, I., Kaposztas, Z., Varjas, T., . . . Bence, R. (2022, November). A systematic review of selected plants and their metabolites with anticolorectal cancer effects. Retrieved from ScienceDirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031322001130#bib0070

Bhushan, I., Singh, V., & Tripathi, D. (2020). Nanomaterials and Environmental Biotechnology. Retrieved from SPRINGER NATURE Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-34544-0

Garcia-Oliveira, P., Otero, P., Pereira, A., Chamorro, F., Carpena, M., Echave, J., . . . Prieto, M. (2021, February 14). Status and Challenges of Plant-Anticancer Compounds in Cancer Treatment. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7918405/#sec4-pharmaceuticals-14-00157

Wolf, C., Rachow, T., Ernst, T., Hocchaus, A., Zomorodbakhsch, B., Foller, S., . . . Hubner, J. (2021, April 17). Interactions in cancer treatment considering cancer therapy, concomitant medications, food, herbal medicine and other supplements. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8800918/#Sec13

Akram, M., Khan, M., Ahmed, N., Bhatti, R., Pervaiz, R., Malik, K., . . . Ali, Q. (2023, February 25). Cloning and expression of an anti-cancerous cytokine: human IL-29 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardti. Retrieved from SpringerOpen: https://amb-express.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13568-023-01530-1

Zhu, B., Yin, H., Zhang, D., Zhang, M., Chao, X., Scimeca, L., & Wu, M.-R. (2024, April 11). Synthetic biology approaches for improving the specificity and efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. Retrieved from PubMed:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38605087/