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. 2013:2013:302426.
doi: 10.1155/2013/302426. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Therapeutic applications of herbal medicines for cancer patients

Shu-Yi Yin  1 , Wen-Chi Wei, Feng-Yin Jian, Ning-Sun Yang
Affiliations

Therapeutic applications of herbal medicines for cancer patients

Shu-Yi Yin et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013.

Abstract

Medicinal herbs and their derivative phytocompounds are being increasingly recognized as useful complementary treatments for cancer. A large volume of clinical studies have reported the beneficial effects of herbal medicines on the survival, immune modulation, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients, when these herbal medicines are used in combination with conventional therapeutics. Here, we briefly review some examples of clinical studies that investigated the use of herbal medicines for various cancers and the development of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this emerging research area. In addition, we also report recent studies on the biochemical and cellular mechanisms of herbal medicines in specific tumor microenvironments and the potential application of specific phytochemicals in cell-based cancer vaccine systems. This review should provide useful technological support for evidence-based application of herbal medicines in cancer therapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Medicinal herb “extracts” or “formulations” being tested as adjuvant treatments for chemo- or radiotherapies against various cancers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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