Natural Compounds of Plant Origin and Their Application in Therapy of Oncological Diseases

Abstract

As a consequence of increasing occurrence of malign and cardiovascular diseases, but also of multiresistant microorganisms, it is necessary to dispose of new and more effective therapeutics, which are easier to biosynthesize, isolate and modify. At present natural compounds attract increasing attention fuelled_by the well-documented limits and adverse effects of current chemical drugs as well as by the ongoing search for better methods of fighting the diseases. The review summarizes the important bioactive plant compounds currently used as anticancer agents and their mode of action. The cytotoxic plant drugs can be categorized into five main classes: vinca alkaloids, epipodophyllotoxins, combretastatins, camptothecins and diterpenoid taxanes. Some new secondary metabolites isolated from plants and derivatives of the known antitumour drugs currently undergo clinical tests.