The anticancer activity of some medicinal plants of the genus Ephedra

Abstract

Cancer is a disease that is born in part as a result of our life style changes. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more common, with many new cases occurring every day causing more than 19 million patients worldwide and thus many deaths. Chemotherapy and radiation are the most common ways to treat cancer. These treatments include the use of chemicals that may harm an individual's physical and mental health. This can lead to serious side effects and complications. Therefore, we need to find an alternative way to fight cancer that is free of side effects and equally effective. Ephedra is likely to be one of these alternative methods. For this reason, the aim of this dissertation was to make an analysis of some of the published articles of the two plants E. alata and E. foeminea in vitro and in vivo in order to find out how these two plants are effective in fighting cancer. The results indicated that the use of these plants in anticancer therapy may be very beneficial as their extracts contains bioactive molecules possessing antiproliferatif effect. Accordingly, These plants may offer a promising drug source for the development of novel and effective anticancer drugs.