Epidemiology of anti-cancer herbal medicines in dual management of viral infections and gynecologic cancers.
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Date
2016
Authors
Odimegwu, Joy
Borokini, O.T.
Oyedere, T
Oyekanmi, Y.
Odukoya, Olukemi Abiodun
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNESCO- Merck Africa Research Summit (MARS)
Abstract
Gynecologic cancers are the fourth most common type of cancers affecting approximately 1 in 20 women in the world1. Women in the WHO African Region had the highest incidence of cancer of the cervix uteri1. Interventions and viable solutions to gynecological cancers are needed urgently in order to stem its tide of devastation especially in the African region where there is a dearth of good health care systems even at the primary level. Viral infections are now known to lead to certain cancers, A few types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) are the main causes of cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women worldwide.
Medicinal plants are considered valuable sources of novel compounds having potential for the development of new pharmaceuticals, and are known as ‘Chemical Goldmines’ of novel products and applications. Thousands of people in Africa, an estimated 80% of the total population depend on herbal medicines for their primary health care needs. Dioscorea spp. is a popularly used herb generally taken alone or in multiple-herb formulations for a range of ailments. Anti-bacterial, antioxidative, and hypolipidemic activities, etc., have been reported. Extracts from Dioscorea ameliorates menopausal symptoms2 and are implicated locally in the management of certain infections and tumors. Three Dioscorea species; Dioscorea composita, Dioscorea floribunda, and Dioscorea alata were analyzed for their phytochemical content and anticancer potentials using Allium cepa assays. The extracts demonstrated inhibited root growth and cell division in the A. cepa root tips with the highest inhibitory effect at 0.2mg/ml and 0.6mg/ml. Chromosomal aberrations are a sign of cytotoxicity of extract, those observed in the treated root tips are binucleate chromosomes, sticky chromosomes, c-mitosis, bridged anaphase, vagrant and attached chromosomes. Induced chromosomal aberrations were significant at all concentrations. These results confirm the cytotoxic effect of Dioscorea extracts as already published for species other the ones used in these studies. Further anticancer and antiviral assays will be carried out using human cell lines to develop the findings.
References
1.Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin DM, Forman D, Bray, F. (2014). GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.1, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11 Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer.
2.Wu, W. H, Liu, L.Y, Chung, C. J, Jou, H. J, Wang, T. A. (2005). Estrogenic effect of yam ingestion in healthy postmenopausal women. J Am Coll Nutr; 24: 235-243.
3.Liu H, Chou GX, Guo YL, Ji LL, Wang JM, (2010). Norclerodane diterpenoids from rhizomes of Dioscorea bulbifera. Phytochemistry 71: 1174-1180.
Description
Africa Summit at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Keywords
Dioscorea, Epidemiology, Gynaecological cancers, Viral infections,