Affiliation:
1. University College of MAIWP International, Malaysia
2. Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, India
Abstract
Plumbago zeylanica is a member of the Plubaginaceae family and well known for its pharmacological properties attributed to secondary metabolites such as phenolics, alkaloids, and saponins. Notably, the root extracts of this plant contain a compound called “plumbagin (PLB),” which has been responsible for its anti-cancer activity. PLB is a naturally forming naphthoquinone found in plant roots. Numerous researchers have stated the anti-cancer activity of PLB against various cell lines of cancer that include squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, brain tumor, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney lymphocyte carcinoma, osteosarcoma, canine cancer, tongue leukemia, esophageal cancer, and hepatoma. In this chapter, we comprehend a review of the studies published till now related to the anticancer properties of Plumbago zeylanica, examining both recent advances and existing limitations in understanding of its potential in cancer treatment.