Oxidative stress and cancer: Antioxidative role of Ayurvedic plants

Abstract

Abstract Oxidative damage caused by imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants plays a major role in causation and progression of many chronic diseases, including cancer. Oxidative stress is known to mediate activation of multiple signaling pathways, growth factors, transcription factors, kinases, inflammatory and cell cycle regulatory molecules that cause transformation, survival, proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance in cancer cells. However, triggering of antioxidant mechanisms either by internal or external sources counteracts oxidative stress. Limited internal antioxidants in the body system necessitate the supplementation of additional antioxidants using dietary or medicinal plants. Ayurvedic medicine, which utilizes a variety of medicinal plants, has been shown to have immense potential to boost antioxidant activity. Besides antioxidant properties, Ayurvedic plants have various other well-known properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-ulcerative, antidiabetic, antigenotoxic, anticarcinogenic, and many others. In this chapter, we will discuss the link between oxidative stress and cancer and the role of some selected Ayurvedic plants in regulating oxidative stress and cancer.