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Planta Med 2010; 76(11): 1118-1131
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250186
Cancer Therapy
Reviews
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Role of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicines in Cancer Therapy – from TCM Theory to Mechanistic Insights

W. L. Wendy Hsiao1 , Liang Liu1
  • 1Center for Cancer & Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
Further Information

Publication History

received May 3, 2010 revised July 1, 2010

accepted July 5, 2010

Publication Date:
15 July 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine-based herbal medicines have gained increasing acceptance worldwide in recent years and are being pursued by pharmaceutical companies as rich resources for drug discovery. For many years, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) have been applied for the treatment of cancers in China and beyond. Herbal medicines are generally low in cost, plentiful, and show very little toxicity or side effects in clinical practice. However, despite the vast interest and ever-increasing demand, the absence of strong evidence-based research and the lack of standardization of the herbal products are the main obstacles toward the globalization of TCM. In recent years, TCM research has greatly accelerated with the advancement of analytical technologies and methodologies. This review of TCM specifically used in the treatment of cancer is divided into two parts. Part one provides an overview of the philosophy, approaches and progress in TCM-based cancer therapy. Part two summarizes the current understanding of how TCM-derived compounds function as anticancer drugs.

Key words

Chinese herbal medicines - traditional Chinese medicine - anti‐cancer drugs - mechanism of action of Chinese herbal medicines

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Prof. W. L. Wendy Hsiao

School of Chinese Medicine
Hong Kong Baptist University

Kowloon Tong

Kowloon

Hong Kong

People's Republic of China

Phone: + 852 34 11 29 59

Fax: + 852 34 11 24 61

Email: bowhsiao@hkbu.edu.hk

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