USEFUL MEDICINAL PLANTS HAVING ANTI-CANCEROUS AND ANTI-TUMOROUS MEDICINAL POTENTIAL OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA (L.) DUNAL, ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA (BURM.F.) WALL AND GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (L.)

A study has reviewed three medicinal plants from India that have been traditionally used for treating and preventing diseases, including cancer. These plants, namely Withania somnifera (L.) Duna L, Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wall, and Glycyrrhiza glabra L., possess anti-cancer and anti-tumorous properties. They contain various bio-active constituents and secondary metabolites, such as Withanolides, Withaferins-A, D, Withanone, Withanosides, steroidal lactones, Adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) wall contains Andrographolide, β-Sitosterol, Stigma Sterol, Chlorophylla, 5-2-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-flavone, β-Sitosteryl fatty acid ester, lupeol, and Triacylglycerols. Glycyrrhiza glabra (L.) contains Glycyrrhezic acid, 18β-Glycyrrhetic acid, Glycyrrhizin, Anethole,(3% to total volatile),  Iso-flavone Glabreneonl, Iso-flavone glaberidin, Licochalcone-A, and licoagrochalcone. These plants have shown promising results in preventing and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and tumours in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The study highlights the ethnobotanical, pharmacological, and biological activities of these plants and emphasizes their potential for novel drug discovery, pharmacopoeial standardization, and clinical research.