Herbs and Supplements

According to a recent systematic review, including 155 studies and 809 065 participants, a large percentage of cancer patients sought herbal medicine during the course of conventional therapy.

Herbal medicines are one type of dietary supplement. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. They may act in a manner similar to pharmaceuticals yet without side effects.

This Review Article says: A large volume of clinical studies have reported the beneficial effects of herbal medicines on the survival, immune modulation, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients, when these herbal medicines are used in combination with conventional therapeutics.

Herbs & Spices shown to prolong survival

Avemar (Supplement) This study found the oral use of Avemar in patients with advanced colorectal cancer or high-risk melanoma prolonged survival following chemotherapy and surgery. See Avemar

AHCC (Supplement) In this study a total of 269 patients with liver cancers were studied. 113 who received AHCC had an increased overall survival rate when compared to the control group. See AHCC page

Anvirzel (Oleander extract)
In this study of 9 metastatic cancer patients who received the extract Nerium oleander Survival times were extended for all patients with survival times ranging from 32 months to 11 years. See Anvirzel

Artempsinin In this study of 23 patients, those treated a derivative of Artemisinin the survival beyond 2 years in the artesunate group is estimated at 91% vs only 57% in the placebo group. See Artemisinin

Curcumin (Supplement) This Systematic Review of 22 studies concluded: In several other studies, it was reported that curcumin has increased patient survival. See Curcumin

Fish oil and Glucosamine
This large prospective cohort study [14,920 participants] showed that the use of fish oil and glucosamine was associated with decreased all-cause mortality and cancer mortality among patients with cancer. 

Melatonin (Supplement) In this study, 250 metastatic cancer patients received Melatonin plus chemo, or chemo alone. The 1-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients treated with Melatonin See Melatonin

Paw Paw  Cell-Reg (PawPaw extract) In this study of 94 patients with stage 4 cancer patients resulted in inhibition of further metastases and increased duration of survival. See more at Paw Paw  Cell-Reg

Polysaccharide-K (PSK) (mushroom extract) In this study 225 patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer treated with Radiation and PSK, the 5-year survival rates were significantly increased. See  PSK page

Vitamin E (Supplement) In this study of 23 ovarian cancer patients (short life expectancy) tocotrienol supplementation in combination with chemotherapy increased overall survival to 12 months. See Vitamin E

Herbs, Spices, Herbal extracts and Supplements with anti-cancer properties.

Aloe Vera
This study says: Here we show that AE [aloe-emodin], a hydroxyanthraquinone present in Aloe vera leaves, selectively inhibits human neuroectodermal tumor cell growth in tissue cultures and in animal models. Neuroblastoma, pPNET, and Ewing’s sarcoma cells were found highly susceptible to AE.

Artemisinin (Sweet wormwood)
Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene obtained from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) which elicits antimalarial, antiparasitic, anti-fungal, antiretroviral, anticancer and anti-schistosomiasis activities. Study
See Artemisinin

Ashwaganda (Withaferin A)
This study says: Withaferin A induces cell death (apoptosis/necrosis) in multiple types of tumor cells.

Astragalus (Milk Vetch)
– Balances the immune system in order to enhance the body’s response towards the disease process of cancer.
– Protects from the effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
– Inhibits the growth of cancer cells and prevents metastasis.
This study says Milk Vetch displayed its ability to control t-helper cells 1 and 2, essentially regulating the body’s immune responses.
See Milk Vetch

Berberine
This Article publiahed in Frontiers in Pharmacology says:
Berberine can inhibit the migration and invasion of tumors
Berberine can promote tumor cell apoptosis
Berberine can block the cell cycle of tumor cells
Berberine can inhibit tumor proliferation
Berberine can induce autophagy of tumor cells
See Berberine

Black Pepper (a spice containing Piperine)
The treatment of colon cancer cells with piperine has been shown to reduce the ability of the cells to form non-adherent spheres and colonies, suggesting the inhibiting effect of piperine on cancer stem cells, says this study

The treatment of colon cancer cells with piperine has been shown to reduce the ability of the cells to form non-adherent spheres and colonies, suggesting the inhibiting effect of piperine on cancer stem cells, says this study

Boswellia (Frankincense):
– Reduces inflammation in tumor microenvironment potentially favoring immune responses against cancer.
– Inhibits cancer cell proliferation and metastasis.  
– Protects normal tissues from the damaging effects of chemotherapy.

Bupleurum (Thorowax, or Hares ear)
Preclinical studies suggest that bupleurum has antiviral hepatoprotective anti-inflammatory immune-modulating antiproliferative and chemopreventive  properties. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre

Cayenne Pepper (a spice containing Capsaicin)
Food sources: cayenne, chili, paprika, red hot pepper
This study review says: Capsaicin exhibits strong anticancer activity through targeting multiple signaling pathways and cancer-associated genes in different tumor stages including initiation, promotion, progression and metastasis. This scientific Review article states: It has been recently demonstrated that capsaicin induces apoptosis [cancer cell death] in many types of cancer cell lines, including colon adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and many others, leaving normal cells unharmed.

Capsiacin (Cayenne Pepper)
Food sources: Cayenne, green or red chili, spur or tabasco peppers
This study review says: Capsaicin exhibits strong anticancer activity through targeting multiple signaling pathways and cancer-associated genes in different tumor stages including initiation, promotion, progression and metastasis.

Chamomile
Study: Exposure of chamomile extracts caused minimal growth inhibitory responses in normal cells, whereas a significant decrease in cell viability was observed in various human cancer cell lines. Chamomile exposure resulted in differential apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal cells at similar doses.

Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)
An herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine that has roots of high medicinal value according to the US National Institutes of Health. This study showed results that support the efficacy of Chinese Skullcap as an anticancer agent for glioblastomas multiforme.

Echinacea
This Study says: Flavonoids act as an immune-stimulant, they are present in Echinacea…lessen the harmful consequence of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It also helps the patients in prolonging the survival time with progressive stage of cancer. See Echinacea

Feverfew
Feverfew and Green Chirayta (plant extracts)
This review says “the compound parthenolide, which is derived from the medicinal plant feverfew, has recently been shown to preferentially induce acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) stem cells to undergo apoptosis. Importantly, parthenolide had no discernable effect on normal blood cells.”
This study shows that feverfew plant extract and Green chirayta plant extract are highly effective anti-myeloma cancer stem cell agents, with Green chirayta plant extract displaying increased selectivity for myeloma cancer stem cells compared to feverfew plant extract. The data presented here constitute the first report of natural products with anti-Cancer Stem Cell activity in myeloma cancer.

Garlic
According to American Institute for Cancer Research, one randomized controlled study of a single garlic-containing meal suggested that about 1½ teaspoons of garlic activated genes related to regulating the self-destruction of abnormal cells and immune function.
Study: The beneficial effects of garlic have been known for centuries, and our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlay these effects is steadily increasing. Here, we show that a homemade garlic extract has anti-cancer activities both in vitro [petri dish] and in vivo [live body], and that the activity is stable for more than six months if stored in a freezer.

Genistein
Food sources: Soybeans and Soy protein. Inhibits ovarian cancer stem cells says this study
This study analysed 9514 breast cancer survivors with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer between 1991 and 2006 from 2 US cohorts and 1 Chinese cohort. Soy isoflavone intake (mg/d) was measured with validated food-frequency questionnaires. After a mean follow-up of 7.4 years, postdiagnosis soy food consumption of ≥10 mg isoflavones/day was associated with a nonsignificant reduced risk of breast cancer–specific mortality and a statistically significant reduced risk of recurrence.
See also Haelan 951 (A fermented soybean-derived beverage)

Ginger
Ginger, a cousin spice of super anti-cancer substance turmeric, is known for its ability to shrink tumors. This study says: …the anticancer potential of ginger is well documented and its functional ingredients like gingerols, shogaol, and paradols are the valuable ingredients which can prevent various cancers, angiogenesis and metastasis, induction of apoptosis.

Ginseng:
– Increases NK cell activity against cancer cells.
– Modulates the immune system towards greater responses against tumors.
– Enhances the effects of chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic agents.

The anti-cancer effects of ginseng are mainly through the improvements in cell-mediated immunity consisting of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells, while other mechanisms such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, and angiogenesis are also involved.
See Ginseng

American, Panax, and Siberian ginseng all have estrogenic effects; therefore, women with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid these herbs (Eagon et al., 2000).

Green Tea Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG))
This study concluded: The use of EGCG could enhance the effect of conventional cancer therapies through additive or synergistic effects as well as through amelioration of deleterious side effects. 

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is the main proteins required for the development of new blood vessels to feed tumors. Green Tea inhibits VEGF, according to this study

Matcha Green Tea
This study says:
Catechins in green tea are known to have many beneficial health properties. Recently, it has been suggested that matcha has greater potential health benefits than other green teas. Using a mg catechin/g of dry leaf comparison, results indicate that the concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) available from drinking matcha is 137 times greater than the amount of EGCG available from China Green Tips green tea, and at least three times higher than the largest literature value for other green teas. These results suggest that drinking matcha will result in dramatically greater intake of EGCG.

This is from an article in The ASCO Post:
Although a dose of 200 mg of EGCG seems to be safe, higher doses may interact with some prescription drugs and may elevate liver enzyme levels. It is also important to distinguish food from concentrated supplements because the dosage varies considerably, which in turn can either confer benefit or cause harmful effects.

This 2022 study says: EGCG interacts with various recognized cellular targets and inhibits cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, scientific evidence has illustrated the promising role of EGCG in inhibiting tumor cell metastasis and angiogenesis. It has also been found that EGCG may reverse drug resistance of cancer cells and could be a promising candidate for synergism studies…A major challenge with EGCG is its low bioavailability which is being targeted for improvement by encapsulating EGCG in nano-sized vehicles for further delivery. 

Licorice (a herb containing Glycyrrhizic acid)
This study says: Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main component of licorice root extracts, has been shown to suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various types of cancers.
This study says: Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) is a perennial plant that is cultivated in many countries and has been reported to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. However, some components of licorice exert unwanted side effects…The anticancer activities of many of the licorice components appear to include cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and general antioxidant effects. 

Milk Thistle (Silymarin and Silibinin)
– Prevents damage to the liver resulting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
– Induces apoptosis for cancer cells and hinders cancer cells from growing.
– Modulates the signaling pathways linked to tumor progression.
Recent preclinical studies have shown strong efficacy of silibinin to target cancer cell’s migratory and invasive characteristics as well as their ability to metastasize to distant organs, according to this study
The authors of this study say their data provide sufficient evidence that silibinin has dual efficacy against both bulk colorectal cancer cells cells and colon cancer stem cells.

Note: The estrogenic effects suggest that women with hormone sensitive cancers should avoid this herb.

Nigella sativa and Thymoquinone
Nigella sativa L., commonly referred as black cumin, is an oriental spice that has been used since the times of ancient Egypt. It is…used as a natural medicine for treatment of many acute as well as chronic conditions ranging from fever to intestinal disturbances to cancer. Thymoquinone is the predominant bioactive constituent isolated from black seeds of Nigella sativa and has been shown to possess antineoplastic activity against multifarious tumors.

Naturin a new Chinese medical herb produced by XingYa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.,
This study says: In vitro treatment with Naturin, a new Chinese medical herb, significantly restored lymphocyte proliferation and NK cell activity that were suppressed in cancer patients (Shen et al., 1996). In vivo, Naturin was reported to have significantly improved symptoms of cancer patients including leukemia and lung cancers (Mori et al., 1988).

Neem
This study says: Neem and Neem-based products can clearly inhibit the processes which drive PCa [prostate cancer] incidence, progression, and resistance to chemotherapy in pre-clinical settings, and do so by inhibiting the pathways known to mediate these processes including the AR pathway, PI3K/Akt pathway, and intrinsic pathway of apoptosis amongst others. This, combined with the favorable safety profile of Neem…
This study contains the following highlights:
• Neem constituents maintain redox balance and induce cancer cell death.
• Antitumor immunity of host is augmented by neem components.
• Therapeutic efficacy of anticancer agents is enhanced by neem compounds.
• Anticancer agents in neem exert tumor selective toxicity.

Oregano
Study: Our findings suggest that oregano amounts found in the Mediterranean diet can exert proapoptotic effects, which are selective for cancer cells. Moreover, whole extract, instead of a specific component, can be responsible for the observed cytotoxic effects.

Passion Fruit Leaf Extract (PaLE)
This 2020 study says:
Our outcomes corroborate the conclusion that PaLE has antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo with low toxicity.
This 2020 Review states: Various extracts, fruit juice and isolated compounds showed a wide range of health effects and biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-tumor, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic activities, and so forth.
Passionflower was shown to enhance the potency of St. John’s wort.

Peppermint
This study concluded that peppermint extract has the effect of reducing the severity of nausea and vomiting and improving the appetite in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. 

Red clover
Genistein has been regarded as the anti-cancer compound in red clover.
This study concluded: our study suggests that extracts from red clover are able to alter ER positive breast cancer cell motility and invasive behavior by regulating the actin cytoskeleton
through the ERM protein moesin. Through this mechanism, phytoestrogens derived from red clover decrease breast cancer cell migration and invasion induced by physiological concentrations of estradiol

Patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid red clover because it has estrogenic activity

Rosemary (a herb containing rosmarinic acid (RA) and carnosic acid (CA))
This 2024 study concluded: RA and CA exhibited pro-apoptotic effects while inhibiting migration, invasion, and proliferation of cancer cells. The cytotoxicity and therapeutic potential of rosmarinic acid (RA) and carnosic acid (CA) in numerous types of cancer, including resistant cells, make them promising candidates for anti-cancer therapies. The selective toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic medications further support their potential application in cancer treatment.

Saffron
This 2024 study concluded: Studies have demonstrated that saffron and its compounds, including crocin, crocetin, safranal, and picrocrocin, possess anticancer properties, such as inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis, as well as interfering with various cancer-promoting signaling pathways. Saffron has also shown potential in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, enhancing their efficacy and reducing side effects.

Sheeps Sorrell
The roots of Sheep sorrel herb (Rumex acetosella) were the key to the success of Rene Caisse’s Essiac Tea therapy

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
This 2021 study says: The vast majority of the data reported here suggest that hypericum and its derivatives might be very powerful agents for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. There is the possibility they possess much broader biological activities.

Sutherlandia (Cancer Bush)
Constituents in Sutherlandia have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer properties. A few case reports suggest it may help decrease fatigue in cancer patients, but whether it could be used as a treatment for cancer has not been studied in humans.
Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
This study reported: Several researches have been conducted on the effect of Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) on various cancers, including colorectal, breast, lung, head and neck cancer, etc. By studying the effect of this plant on cancers, researchers reached remarkable results. Conclusion: According to the research done, it can be said that Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) has an effect on various cancers and is also known as an anti-cancer plant.

Turmeric (a spice containing Curcumin)
This Systematic Review of 22 studies concluded: a number of studies considered in this systematic review have shown that taking curcumin would increase the expression of anti-metastatic proteins. In several other studies, it was reported that curcumin has also increased patient survival and decreased tumor marker concentration.
See Curcumin

Wheatgrass
The authors of this study said their results demonstrated that wheatgrass-activated immune cells played a central role in building immunity. Several papers have indicated that wheatgrass has anti-tumor activities, anti-oxidant properties,
See Wheatgrass

References
Kaefer CM, Milner JA. Herbs and Spices in Cancer Prevention and Treatment. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 17. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92774/17.2
Herbs or Natural Products That Decrease Cancer Growth Part One of a Four-Part Series Muriel J. Montbriand, PhD, RN https://www.ons.org/system/files/journal-article-pdfs/165V50368TP17350.pdf
Talib WH, AlHur MJ, Al Naimat S, Ahmad RE, Al-Yasari AH, Al-Dalaeen A, Thiab S, Mahmod AI. Anticancer Effect of Spices Used in Mediterranean Diet: Preventive and Therapeutic Potentials. Front Nutr. 2022 Jun https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.905658
Neeta Bhagat, Archana Chaturvedi. Spices as an Alternative Therapy for Cancer Treatment. http://www.sysrevpharm.org/?mno=302644579 [Access: March 28, 2021]. doi:10.5530/srp.2016.7.7
Anticancer Effect of Spices Used in Mediterranean Diet: Preventive and Therapeutic Potentials. Wamidh H. Talibet al. Front. Nutr., 14 June 2022
Zheng, J.; Zhou, Y.; Li, Y.; Xu, D.-P.; Li, S.; Li, H.-B. Spices for Prevention and Treatment of Cancers. Nutrients 2016, 8, 495. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8080495
Khot Nikhil*, Lohar Dayanand, Khamkar Sakshi, Jamadar Wajid, Torskar Sourabh, Karande Sankalp, Lokare Sonakshi, Herbal Drugs in Cancer Treatment: Current Advances, Efficacy, And Future Prospects in Modern Medicine, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2025, 2 (5), 225-236. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15380959

Page updated January 2025

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