Can Medicinal Plants Help Prevent Cancer?
Imagine a future where cancer prevention begins not in a hospital but in the lap of nature—a sip of herbal tea, a plant-based supplement, or a traditional remedy backed by solid science. In India, where cancer cases are projected to rise to 1.57 million by 2025, the search for accessible, affordable, and culturally resonant preventive solutions is urgent. And yet, the potential of medicinal plants in cancer prevention remains vastly underexplored in our public health conversations.
Can centuries-old traditional wisdom align with cutting-edge cancer biology? My journey—from the Himalayas to international recognition—suggests we are closer to that answer than ever before.
Main Argument
Cancer is one of the most formidable challenges of our time. While new therapies continue to emerge, the global focus on prevention still lags behind—despite being the most cost-effective and humane approach to reducing cancer burden. India, with its deep roots in Ayurveda and herbal traditions, holds untapped promise in this domain. But potential is not proof.
As a cancer biologist, my work focuses on investigating traditional medicinal plants through the lens of molecular oncology. These efforts must move beyond anecdote and toward rigorous, reproducible science—especially if they are to influence public health policy or clinical guidelines.
Scientific Insights
A growing body of scientific research supports the role of medicinal plants in cancer prevention and therapy. Both laboratory and clinical studies highlight their potential.
- Evidence from Studies:
The National Cancer Institute reports that over 3,000 plant species show anticancer activity, with several—like Phyllanthus amarus, Withania somnifera, Nigella sativa, and Boswellia serrata—undergoing clinical or preclinical testing. These plants work through mechanisms such as inducing apoptosis, modulating the cell cycle, and neutralizing carcinogens.
- Well-Known Examples:
Green tea (Camellia sinensis): Epigallocatechin-3-gallate rich extracts suppress growth of prostate, breast, and gastric cancer cells.
Garlic (Allium sativum): Allicin triggers cell death in colon, lung, and breast cancers.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Thymol and carvacrol exhibit strong antioxidant and anti-cancer effects.
- From Plant to Pill:
Taxol (Paclitaxel), from the Pacific yew tree, is a frontline drug for breast and ovarian cancer.
Podophyllotoxin, from Podophyllum, laid the foundation for key chemotherapeutics.
What My Research Revealed?
During my doctoral research in cancer biology at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Kashmir, I investigated Rheum webbianum—a medicinal rhubarb species native to the Western Himalayas and long used in traditional healing. Despite its regional significance, the plant had received limited scientific attention for its potential anticancer properties.
In my study, I tested its extracts in both laboratory-based colorectal cancer cell models and in a chemically induced rat model of colorectal carcinogenesis. The results were encouraging: the extracts not only exhibited cytotoxic effects against cancer cells but also significantly reduced tumor progression in vivo. Further analysis revealed modulation of key cancer-related signaling pathways, particularly Wnt/ -catenin and TGF- —both central to the development of colorectal cancer.
The findings, published in reputed international Q1 journals such as Cancer Research and the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, led to my selection for the prestigious AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award (GSITA) 2025—an honor bestowed upon only 15 researchers globally. This recognition underscores the growing global relevance of ethnopharmacological research in advancing cancer science.
Echoes from the Himalayas
During my fieldwork in the high-altitude Himalayan region, I encountered traditional healers who have relied on Rheum webbianum—commonly known as Himalayan rhubarb—for generations. One elder remarked, “If science proves what our forefathers practiced, our traditions will live with dignity.” That moment deeply resonated with me, highlighting the importance of integrating indigenous wisdom with modern scientific inquiry—neither idealizing tradition nor disregarding its potential, but honouring both through evidence-based exploration.
What We Must Do Now
India is uniquely positioned to lead the global movement in integrative, plant-based oncology—but only if we act wisely and strategically. Here’s what we need:
Invest in Interdisciplinary Research: Botanists, oncologists, pharmacologists, and traditional medicine experts must collaborate—not in silos but as co-creators.
Promote Public Science Literacy: We must help the public distinguish between traditional wisdom, lab findings, and proven clinical therapies.
Strengthen Regulation and Quality Control: Herbal formulations must be standardized, tested, and free from exaggerated or false health claims.
Empower Young Researchers: Selection for the Global Scholar-in-Training Award (GSITA) by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) demonstrates that Kashmiri researchers can excel on global platforms when supported. What remains crucial—and is often missing—is sustained moral support at the institutional level, along with genuine mentorship, to empower the next generation of cancer prevention pioneers.
So, can medicinal plants help prevent cancer?
The answer is a cautious yet hopeful “yes”—but only through evidence-based research, supportive policies, and transparent science communication.
Nature has always offered clues. Now it’s our responsibility to translate them into cures—or at the very least, into preventive strategies that are affordable, safe, and culturally acceptable.
We must not dismiss the knowledge embedded in centuries of traditional medicine—but neither should we promote hope without proof. A balanced, science-led approach is the way forward.
Dr. Umer Majeed Khaja is a cancer biologist whose PhD focused on colorectal cancer. He is also a distinguished member of the world’s leading international organizations, including AACR, ASCO, SITC, ESMO and EORTC
