Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review
Abstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, following microbial infection, with an estimated 16 million deaths projected by 2040. However, natural resources can potentially treat up to 60% of cancer cases. Various cancers, including those affecting the breast, prostate, stomach, c...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Cancer Cell International |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03720-2 |
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| author | Mohamed T. El-Saadony Samar Sami Alkafaas Ahmed M. Saad Dina Mostafa Mohammed Sameh A. Korma Heba M. Salem Taia A. Abd El-Mageed Mohamed I. Elsalahaty Sara Samy Elkafas Walid F. A. Mosa Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed Essam H. Ibrahim Fawze Alnadari Betty T. Mathew Alaa S. Abdelhamid Sahar F. Allaban Samah A. Loutfy Soumya Ghosh Hanya Y. Assal Marawan K. El-Tarabily Synan F. AbuQamar Khaled A. El-Tarabily |
| author_facet | Mohamed T. El-Saadony Samar Sami Alkafaas Ahmed M. Saad Dina Mostafa Mohammed Sameh A. Korma Heba M. Salem Taia A. Abd El-Mageed Mohamed I. Elsalahaty Sara Samy Elkafas Walid F. A. Mosa Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed Essam H. Ibrahim Fawze Alnadari Betty T. Mathew Alaa S. Abdelhamid Sahar F. Allaban Samah A. Loutfy Soumya Ghosh Hanya Y. Assal Marawan K. El-Tarabily Synan F. AbuQamar Khaled A. El-Tarabily |
| author_sort | Mohamed T. El-Saadony |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, following microbial infection, with an estimated 16 million deaths projected by 2040. However, natural resources can potentially treat up to 60% of cancer cases. Various cancers, including those affecting the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, lung, liver, kidney, bone, skin, and blood, have strong dietary connections regarding their occurrence and prevention. Cancer and its treatments, particularly chemotherapy, are closely associated with malnutrition in humans. The adverse effects of medical therapies and the disease itself often prevent patients with cancer from meeting their nutritional needs through regular food intake. The etiology of malnutrition in patients with cancer is complex and multifactorial, influenced by the type and location of cancer, disease stage, side effects of treatment, economic status, functional capacity, symptoms impacting nutrition, fasting requirements, inadequate dietary therapy, and awareness of the clinical staff regarding the role of dietary habits in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. Although there have been advances in drug-targeted therapies, they remain unelucidated, and therefore, this review aims to elucidate the relationship between cancer, chemical treatments, and malnutrition. In addition, it highlights the significant role of medicinal plants in treating various cancers and mitigating the adverse side effects of chemotherapy, offering a comprehensive understanding of their nutritional, immunological, and therapeutic benefits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-567a81de9cbd47b89d489cc0a952b9dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2867 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Cell International |
| spelling | doaj-art-567a81de9cbd47b89d489cc0a952b9dd2025-08-20T03:42:10ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-07-0125113510.1186/s12935-025-03720-2Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive reviewMohamed T. El-Saadony0Samar Sami Alkafaas1Ahmed M. Saad2Dina Mostafa Mohammed3Sameh A. Korma4Heba M. Salem5Taia A. Abd El-Mageed6Mohamed I. Elsalahaty7Sara Samy Elkafas8Walid F. A. Mosa9Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed10Essam H. Ibrahim11Fawze Alnadari12Betty T. Mathew13Alaa S. Abdelhamid14Sahar F. Allaban15Samah A. Loutfy16Soumya Ghosh17Hanya Y. Assal18Marawan K. El-Tarabily19Synan F. AbuQamar20Khaled A. El-Tarabily21Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig UniversityMolecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta UniversityDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig UniversityNutrition and Food Sciences Department, National Research CentreDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig UniversityDepartment of Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Soils and Water, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum UniversityMolecular Cell Biology Unit, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tanta UniversityProduction Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Menofia UniversityPlant Production Department (Horticulture-Pomology), Faculty of Agriculture Saba Basha, Alexandria UniversityBiology Department, College of Science, King Khalid UniversityBiology Department, College of Science, King Khalid UniversityResearch and Development Center, Jiangsu Tianmeijian Nature Bioengineering Co., Ltd.Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityVirology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo UniversityNatural and Medical Sciences Research Center, University of NizwaFaculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and ArtsFaculty of Medicine, University of DebrecenDepartment of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityDepartment of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates UniversityAbstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, following microbial infection, with an estimated 16 million deaths projected by 2040. However, natural resources can potentially treat up to 60% of cancer cases. Various cancers, including those affecting the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, lung, liver, kidney, bone, skin, and blood, have strong dietary connections regarding their occurrence and prevention. Cancer and its treatments, particularly chemotherapy, are closely associated with malnutrition in humans. The adverse effects of medical therapies and the disease itself often prevent patients with cancer from meeting their nutritional needs through regular food intake. The etiology of malnutrition in patients with cancer is complex and multifactorial, influenced by the type and location of cancer, disease stage, side effects of treatment, economic status, functional capacity, symptoms impacting nutrition, fasting requirements, inadequate dietary therapy, and awareness of the clinical staff regarding the role of dietary habits in diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life. Although there have been advances in drug-targeted therapies, they remain unelucidated, and therefore, this review aims to elucidate the relationship between cancer, chemical treatments, and malnutrition. In addition, it highlights the significant role of medicinal plants in treating various cancers and mitigating the adverse side effects of chemotherapy, offering a comprehensive understanding of their nutritional, immunological, and therapeutic benefits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03720-2CancerChemotherapyClinical nutritionDietary intakeDrugsMedicinal herbs |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed T. El-Saadony Samar Sami Alkafaas Ahmed M. Saad Dina Mostafa Mohammed Sameh A. Korma Heba M. Salem Taia A. Abd El-Mageed Mohamed I. Elsalahaty Sara Samy Elkafas Walid F. A. Mosa Ahmed Ezzat Ahmed Essam H. Ibrahim Fawze Alnadari Betty T. Mathew Alaa S. Abdelhamid Sahar F. Allaban Samah A. Loutfy Soumya Ghosh Hanya Y. Assal Marawan K. El-Tarabily Synan F. AbuQamar Khaled A. El-Tarabily Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review Cancer Cell International Cancer Chemotherapy Clinical nutrition Dietary intake Drugs Medicinal herbs |
| title | Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review |
| title_full | Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review |
| title_fullStr | Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review |
| title_short | Medicinal plants: nutritional, immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer-related malnutrition: a comprehensive review |
| title_sort | medicinal plants nutritional immunological and therapeutic role in treating cancer related malnutrition a comprehensive review |
| topic | Cancer Chemotherapy Clinical nutrition Dietary intake Drugs Medicinal herbs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03720-2 |
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