Efficacy of Herbal Medicine as Adjunctive Therapy for Skin Cancer
Norbayu Mansor1, Julia Joseph1, Rola Al Shalabi1, Nozlena Binti Abdul Samad*1
Journal of Angiotherapy 6(2) 683-695 https://doi.org/10.25163/angiotherapy.624310
Submitted: 28 April 2022 Revised: 08 October 2022 Published: 15 November 2022
Abstract
Skin cancer is a condition in which the skin's cells grow abnormally. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. It is more frequently found in locations exposed to sunlight, although it can also occur in areas that are not normally exposed to sunlight. Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of herbal medicine as adjuvant therapy for skin cancer. Herbal medicine utilises plants, or combinations of plant extracts, to treat illness and promote health. Herbal medicine has grown in popularity over the last few decades due to its critical role in cancer prevention and therapy. As a result, herbal treatments are increasingly being studied and utilised extensively to treat skin cancers worldwide. This article aims to discuss the anticancer capabilities of herbal medicine as an adjuvant therapy for skin cancer and the potential for their bioactive components to increase immunity and kill cancer cells. In addition, this study will present an overview of anti-cancer compounds produced from plants that have been proven to have potential anti-carcinogenic characteristics in various skin cancer cell lines and animal models. This review aims to increase awareness of herbal medicine as an adjuvant therapy for cancer and to provide further data for developing more effective anti-cancer medicines. Research utilising herbal medicine in various forms and at various levels in the future with more carefully designed studies will need to be conducted, including rigorous quality control and standardised models at the cellular, organic, animal, and clinical levels to combat skin cancer.
Keywords: Skin cancer, herbal medicine, adjunctive therapy, melanoma
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