Phytochemicals and their anticancer activity: An update on their mode of action

Many medicinal plants are well known in our country since time immemorial which reveal the invaluable knowledge of medicinal herbs to help in curing various diseases. Plants adapt to many physical and physiological defense mechanisms by production of secondary metabolites. The synergistic effects of herbal medicine contribute to greater potential in curing diseases compared to synthetic drugs. Role of research using herbs of medicinal importance is increasing rapidly during the preceding decade for development of new phytopharmaceuticals. Many new species of medicinal plants and their therapeutic effects were added to the already existing pharmacopeia. Modern medicine analyses biological effects of medicinal plants technically for novel drug development for accurate mode of action. This is an era where herbal medicine re-emerged as secondary metabolites showing numerous therapeutic effects focusing on identification, isolation and scale up of phytopharmaceuticals for manufacturing of drugs beneficial to humankind. Various phytochemicals that play a role in anticancer properties along with mode of action are reviewed in present study. This review highlights the mechanism of antitumor action of some of the recent findings in plants focusing on regulating signaling pathways which paved the way in revolutionizing the pharma field. However, the study of medicinal plants should continue on unexplored plants without limitation. Mechanism of anticancer action of many explored and unexplored plants needs to be highlighted.