The anti-mitotic action of plant derived anti-cancer drugs in homoeopathy

Background: Homoeopathy is considered as one of the modalities for cancer therapy. This approach of treatment of diseases is based on the use of ultra-high dilutions majority of which are derived from the plant sources. Plant derived natural products are nontoxic to normal cells due to which they are used widely in cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute collected about 35,000 plant samples from 20 countries and has screened around 114,000 extracts for anti-cancer activity of which 60% are of natural origin. The fundamental principle behind the development of cancer is the tumour clonality and certain active principles derived from the plants like Vinca Minor, Podophyllum and Taxus baccata which are used in homoeopathy exert their pharmacological action on the tumour cells by inhibiting the process of mitosis. Aim: The article intends to elaborate on the knowledge about the various phytochemicals found in the plants used in Homoeopathy and their mechanism of action in various cancers by the inhibition of the process of the mitosis in the cancer cells. Results: After analysing the various in-vitro and animal studies, it was observed that the active constituents present in the plants like Vinca Minor, Podophyllum and Taxus baccata interferes with tubulin which further arrests the process of mitosis in the tumour cells. Conclusion: Tumour inhibitors mainly from the plant kingdom play a vital role in number of cancers due to the pharmacological activity of their respective active constituents. Many more cell line and animal studies are required to study the efficacy of these plants in the treatment of cancer.