Natural Product Interventions for Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy-Induced Side Effects
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 2018-11-06
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Summary
This research examines how natural products like herbs, plant extracts, and dietary supplements can help reduce the harsh side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These natural interventions work through various mechanisms including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to protect healthy cells while allowing cancer treatment to continue.
Impacts on everyday life:
– Provides cancer patients with potential natural options to manage treatment side effects
– May help patients better tolerate and complete their prescribed cancer treatments
– Offers generally safe complementary approaches that can be used alongside conventional medicine
– Could improve quality of life during cancer treatment through reduced side effects
– Highlights the importance of discussing natural product use with healthcare providers
Background
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy are common cancer treatments, they cause serious side effects that reduce quality of life and may lead to therapy discontinuation. Natural products have shown promise in preventing and treating these side effects.
Objective
This review aims to summarize recent evidence for the effectiveness of natural products in reducing chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced side effects, describe possible mechanisms of action, highlight advances in natural dietary supplements, and examine the role of gut microbiota in protection against cancer therapy toxicities.
Results
Multiple natural products showed protective effects against various chemotherapy and radiotherapy side effects through anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other mechanisms. Products included herbs, plant extracts, bioactive compounds, and dietary supplements. Some demonstrated clinical efficacy while others showed promise in preclinical models. Effects varied by product and type of toxicity.
Conclusion
Natural products show potential as therapeutic agents for preventing and treating chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced side effects. However, more high-quality clinical trials are needed to validate efficacy in cancer patients and elucidate mechanisms of action. The role of gut microbiota and product interactions with chemotherapy drugs requires further study.
- Published in:Frontiers in Pharmacology,
- Study Type:Review,
- Source: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01253