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Herbal Remedies for Improving Cancer Treatment Through Modulation of Redox Balance

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Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Therapeutic Aspects

Abstract

The redox modulation induced by oxidative stress is one of the major cause of the metabolic and inflammatory disorders including cancer. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by various sources in the cell shift the redox homeostasis of cells towards more oxidizing or acidic environment. This shift results in the alterations of normal physiologic functioning of biomolecules as well as causes damage to these biomolecules (proteins, lipids, and DNA/RNA). The excessive ROS and redox modulation are the key factors that support growth, progression, and survival of cancer cells. ROS-induced redox modulation further activates pro-tumorigenic cellular pathways for e.g., PI3K/AKT, HIF-1, and MAPK signaling pathways as well as hinders epigenetic signaling. Increasing evidences demonstrate that long-term side effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy are major concern of medical sciences although modern treatments are quite effective. The combination of various herbal formulations with anti-cancer therapy shows improvement in treatment effectiveness in cancer patients. Bioactive compounds present in herbal formulations possess antioxidant and anti-cancer properties that help in the regulation of redox status of cancer cells. The synergetic effects of herbal remedies along with conventional treatment are proven as novel therapeutics in cancer progression management. Clinical studies have shown that broad range of herbs and bioactive compounds from various plants having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties can suppress the carcinogenesis. In this chapter we will discuss the role of various plants such as Glycyrrhiza glabra, Picrorhiza kurroa, Tinospora cordifolia, Curcuma longa, Ocimum sanctum, Viola odorata, and bioactive compound ferulic acid found in various cereals. The chapter will also focus on various mechanisms involved in the modulation of chemo-toxicity and improvement of efficacy of conventional anti-cancer therapies by these plants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India

    Sukhchain Kaur, Sharanjot Kaur, Subham Singh & Monisha Dhiman

  2. Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India

    Harkomal Verma & Anil K. Mantha

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  1. Sukhchain Kaur
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  2. Harkomal Verma
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  3. Sharanjot Kaur
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  4. Subham Singh
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  5. Anil K. Mantha
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  6. Monisha Dhiman
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Correspondence to Monisha Dhiman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept Biochem & Biophysics, C-Block, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

    Sajal Chakraborti

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Minamiseiko Hospital, Nagoya, Japan

    Takehiko Takayanagi

  2. Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Prakash Radhakrishnan

  3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ayse Günes-Bayir

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, Illinois, USA

    Gnanasekar Munirathinam

  5. Dean, Research, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, India

    Anjana Munshi

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Kaur, S., Verma, H., Kaur, S., Singh, S., Mantha, A.K., Dhiman, M. (2022). Herbal Remedies for Improving Cancer Treatment Through Modulation of Redox Balance. In: Chakraborti, S. (eds) Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Therapeutic Aspects. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1247-3_270-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1247-3_270-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-1247-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-1247-3

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