One of the most common human diseases of the twenty-first century is cancer. Despite the lengthy history of the condition, early diagnosis and effective treatment have been difficult to come by. Humanity could detect and treat the COVID-19 pandemic in a few years, but it is not possible to do the same for cancer. This is because, rather than being caused by an outside infectious agent, the disease is extremely diverse and depends on the body's own cells going awry.

Along With Allopathic Treatments
In an effort to create a potential remedy, researchers are currently concentrating on the natural medicinal plants found in the Himalayas. It is crucial to keep in mind that because medicinal plants have special metabolites that are not found in the animal kingdom, they can be utilized to cure human illnesses. These compounds are used by plants for defense, and people have been employing plants for ages to treat illnesses and improve their overall health.
 
The special anti-cancer components found in Himalayan medicinal plants have finally been shown by scientific investigation. According to a recent clinical trial, a novel medication made from the Himalayan fungus Cordyceps sinensis has 40 times the efficacy of its parent molecule in killing cancer cells while having few harmful side effects. This is an illustration of how modern science uses plants as sources for medicine development. Because plants that can withstand harsher environments are more likely to have special chemicals that can protect human cells, Himalayan herbs are of special interest.
 
Herbs such as Arnebia euchroma, Hippophae rhamnoides, Swertia chirayita, Hypericum perforatum, Rheum emodi, Taxus wallichiana, and Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan Mayapple), which have long been used in traditional medicine, are now being studied for their anti-cancer properties.
 
The Arnebia euchroma is referred to as the "Gaozaban" of Ladakh. It is well-known for having naphthoquinone pigments with anticancer properties, such as shikonin. cancer cells undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death, as a result of shikonin and its derivatives. They stop cancer cells from proliferating by inhibiting dna topoisomerase I and II, which are essential enzymes for dna replication and cell division.
 
The plant Hippophae rhamnoides, sometimes referred to as sea buckthorn (SBT), contains substances including isorhamnetin and catechin that have been found to have chemopreventive effects on cancer.  These polyphenols have antioxidant qualities that lessen dna damage and oxidative stress.

Swertia chirayita: This plant is rich in flavonoids and xanthones, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Research indicates that it may be able to combat cancer by treating oxidative stress and stopping tumor development.
 
Hypericum perforatum: Also referred to as St. John's wort (SJW), this roadside weed is also known as Klamath weed and is a well-known medicinal plant.  It includes two compounds that have been shown to have chemopreventive effects on cancer: hypericin and hyperforin.

Rheum emodi: Often referred to as buckwheat or rhubarb, this plant family includes anthraquinones with anticancer properties, such as emodin and rhein.  These anthraquinones stop cells from proliferating and cause apoptosis.

Podophyllum hexandrum: This plant is rich in a precursor to several semi-synthetic chemotherapy medications, such as etoposide and teniposide. By inhibiting topoisomerase II, which halts the proliferation of cancer cells, these compounds combat a range of malignancies, including lung and testicular tumors.

The herb Taxus wallichiana, commonly referred to as Himalayan yew, is well-known for generating paclitaxel, or Taxol, which has revolutionized the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancers.  These herbs' bioactive components are appealing possibilities for cancer treatments since they are not only strong but also frequently show less toxicity than manufactured medications.
 
 

 

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