edited by Spiridon E. Kintzios
and Maria G. Barberaki

• Provides a modern review of plant species and genera with anticancer properties
• Discusses conventional, advanced, and alternative treatments
• Presents extensive, detailed information on more than 150 terrestrial plant genera and species
• Includes numerous photographs, illustrations, and tables
• Features extensive references and chemical structure and species indices

An increasing amount of cancer research is being directed towards the investigation of plant-derived anticancer compounds, many of which have been used in traditional herbal treatments for centuries. Plants that Fight Cancer is an up-to-date, extensive review of plant genera and species with documented anti-tumor and anti-leukaemic properties.

Following an overview of the disease and the diverse methods of therapy and clinical testing, the book provides a detailed examination of the plants whose compounds are currently used in conventional cancer treatment, the species which show the greatest potential as future candidates, and other species with established anticancer properties. The third section explores each of more than 150 terrestrial plant genera and species, with a review of their traditional uses, mythology, botany, active ingredients, and product applications, along with photographs and illustrations and an analysis of expected results and risks. The text closes with a discussion of algal extracts and isolated metabolites with anticancer activity, a summary of published research for each species, and chemical structures of the most important compounds.

Contents

1. What Do We Know About Cancer and Its Therapy?
   • Incidence and Causes
   • Classification of Cancer Types
   • Therapy
   • Conventional Cancer Treatments
   • Advanced Cancer Treatments
   • Other Advanced Therapies
   • Alternative Cancer Treatments
   • From Source to Patient: Testing the Efficiency of a Candidate Anticancer Drug
   • Preclinical Tests
   • Phases of Clinical Trials
   • Clinical Trial Protocols

2. Plants and Cancer
   • Brief Overview of the General Organization of the Plant Cell
   • The Chemical Constituents of the Plant Cell
   • Primary Metabolites
   • Secondary Metabolites
   • Why Do Plant Compounds Have an Anticancer Activity?
   • Chemical Groups of Natural Products with Anticancer Properties
   • Alkaloids
   • Polysaccharides
   • Glycosides
   • Lipids (Saponifiable)
   • Flavonoids
   • Proteins
   • Annonaceous Acetogenins
   • Terpenoids
   • Nucleic Acids
   • Lignans
   • Phenols and Derivatives
   • Aldehydes
   • Unsaponifiable Lipids
   • Unidentified Compounds
   • Biotechnology and the Supply Issue

3. Terrestrial Plant Species with Anticancer Activity: A Presentation
   • Introduction: General Botanical Issues
   • Species-specific Information
   • The Guardian Angels: Plant Species Used in Contemporary Clinical Cancer Treatment
   • Promising Candidates for the Future: Plant Species with a Laboratory-Proven Potential
   • The Fable: Where Tradition Fails to Meet Reality
   • Other Species with Documented Anticancer Activities

4. Cytotoxic Metabolites from Marine Algae
   • Introduction
   • Cytotoxic Metabolites from Chlorophyta
   • Cytotoxic Metabolites from Rhodophyta
   • Cytotoxic Metabolites from Phaeophyta
   • Cytotoxic Metabolites from Microalgae

Appendix: Chemical Structures of Selected Compounds

Chemical Index
Species Index

click here to see books • videos • cd-roms of related interest