Harnessing Nature: The Role of Medicinal Plants in Alleviating Cisplatin Toxicity

Cisplatin (CIS), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is often restricted by its severe side effects, including nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and neurotoxicity.This review explores the potential protective effects of nine natural plants and their bioactive compounds against CIS-induced toxicity.Specifically, we examine the evidence for nine herbal plants, Artemisia, Cinnamon, Curcumin, Ginger, Garlic, Ginseng, Lycopene, Moringa, and Nigella sativa in alleviating CIS's damaging effects.These plants have been used for centuries in herbal remedies and offer several pharmacological qualities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects.This review summarizes the current preclinical evidence demonstrating the protective mechanisms of these natural agents against CIS toxicity, focusing on their impact on oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and apoptosis pathways.This review explored the potential of natural compounds as adjunctive therapies to alleviate CIS-induced toxicity.However, it also highlighted substantial research gaps, such as the necessity for thorough clinical validation, optimized dosage protocols, evaluation of synergistic effects, and a deeper understanding of the precise mechanisms of action of bioactive components.To establish scientifically validated, plant-based interventions for cancer patients, future research must address these critical gaps.