The Use of Plant Products in Cancer Chemotherapy

Plants have been used since the existence of man for food. Plants and plant products are easily biodegradable, unlike synthetic products. In Nigeria, people have been dependent on plant materials largely for food and drugs. Thus, many people lived very long and it was common to see people who lived over 90 years in the past twenty to thirty years, up till the 1970s. In the past era, many plant extracts and fractions were used in the treatment of various diseases including various forms of cancers. In the present era, plants and their products have been jettisoned in the treatment of diseases and as food. This has led to early death in many Nigerian communities and diseases such as cancer are on the increase. This mini-review highlights some plant products that are being tested for use and those that are already in use for cancer chemotherapy.