Potential of Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine as a source of future anti-cancer drugs: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Conventional treatments have varying degrees of success in ameliorating cancer. But administration of chemotherapeutic drugs can often cause side effects in afflicted individuals, exacerbating the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Efforts are being made all over the world to develop new and better anti-cancer drugs from the vast repertoire of plant-derived phytoconstituents available in nature. At least four groups of plant-derived annti-neoplastic drugs are already available commercially. In this review, the potential of the angiospermic plant Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine as a source of anti-cancer drug has been discussed. The crude extract of the plant has shown anti-tumour efficacy in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and Sarcoma-180, MDA-MB-435S and hepatocarcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. Five phytoconstituents of H. auriculata have been reported to possess extensive anti-cancer potential and exhibit anti-tumour effects in many different cell lines and in many different types of cancer.