Medicinal plants mentioned in Siddha literatures for Putru noi (cancer) and their saponin content - a comparative study

Abstract

Medicinal plants are rich sources of phytochemicals such as tannins, Saponins, Polyphenols and etc. Saponins, a type of secondary compound structurally diverse molecules that are chemically referred as triterpene and steroid glycosides. Saponins have a potential health benefit such as anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, Hepatoprotective and etc. Saponin have shown effective anticancer potential in various cancer cell lines by inhibiting cell growth and by inducing apoptosis. Siddha literature indicates some medicinal plants for Putru noi (cancer) with corresponding saponin content. This study reviews medicinal plants with indications of Putru noi (cancer) and examines their scientific evidence of Saponin content. Data were collected from Siddha literatures and scientific reviews including Google Scholar, Science direct and etc. Most of the reviews are matched that the plants having indication of Putru noi (cancer) in Siddha literatures and they have Saponin content. The plants had indication of Putru noi (cancer) and they have Saponin content and anti-carcinogenic activity. we would study later whether medicinal plants containing Saponin can be used against cancer without proven evidence.