Phytochemical and phylogenetic perspective of medicinal plants used for cancer treatment in Egypt

Abstract

With a global increase in mortality, particularly in low-income countries, cancer remains one of the most devastating diseases. Medicinal plants rich in phytochemicals have shown promise as chemoprotective and anticancer agents. As a result, in this study, we compiled a list of medicinal plant species that have been used to treat cancer in the last decade. The results of our review show that 170 plant species from 53 plant families have been used to treat various types of cancer. Plant species are categorised based on their taxonomic position and level of cytotoxicity (very strong, strong, cytotoxic, moderate, and weak). The phylogenetic relationships between these plant species were also reconstructed. The most frequently mentioned plant families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae and Polygonaceae. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, betalains, saponins and polyphenols are found in highly therapeutic plants. The species Solanum, Khaya, Eichhornia, Coccoloba, Annona, Withania, Salicornia, Beta, Persicaria, Persea, Hyphaene and Kalanchoe showed high potency against a range of cancer cells.