Cancer treatment: Role of natural products. Time to have a serious rethink
Shrikant B. Mali
Abstract
Natural products are chemical compounds or substances produced naturally by living organisms. With the development of modern technology, natural products have become useful in medical practice. Both micromolecules and macromolecules have been reported to have the ability to inhibit tumor progression. Natural compounds and their derivatives have anti-tumor properties against different types of human cancer. Throughout history, natural products have played a dominant role in the treatment of human ailments, such as the discovery of penicillin. Natural product research is a powerful approach to discovering biologically active compounds with unique structures and mechanisms of action. Natural products represent a rich source for the discovery and development of cancer preventive and anticancer drugs.