Abstract:
Cancer is an extremely dangerous disease. Cells of the disease rapidly multiply in an uncontrolled manner and invade adjacent tissues as well as distant organs, giving rise to secondary tumours or metastases. Disease is either tackled by (1) radioactive isotopes resulting in burning out of the malignant cells. (2) Surgically by the removal of the malignant cells. (3) By chemotherapy. Antitumour agents available in medicine are divided into: (a) Biological, aklylating agents (b) Antimetabolites (c) plant products and antibiotics. (d) Enzymes and (e) Miscellaneous compounds. (a) Biological alkylating agent include chlorambicil (3) budulphsn (4), nitrogen mustard (5) melphalan (6) and cyclophosphonamide (7). (b) Antimetabolites contains methotrexate, 5-fluorour-aeal 24, 6 mercaptopurine (14) and cytosine arabinoside (15). (c) plant products and antibiotics. The important plant product isolated so far are the anticancer alkaloids, vinblastine, vincristine, vincrosidine and vinleurosine. 1mporant antibiotic isolated from a strain of streptomyces is daunorubicin (d) Enzymes and a number of miscellaneous, synthetic and natural substances are under investigation for their action against tumours. Certain plants have been thought to possess antitumour activity. Some herbal medicines are prescribed for cancer therapy. Garlic is useful in the treatment of the Ehrlich carcinoma.
Page(s):
171-193
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of science, Volume: 4, Issue: , Year: 1976