title: Plants and cervical cancer: an overview.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer, the second most common gynecological malignant tumor seriously harmful to the health of women, remains a leading cause of cancer-related death for women in developing countries. Although a large amount of scientific research has been reported on plants as a natural source of treatment agents for cervical cancer, it is currently scattered across various publications. A systematic summary and knowledge of future prospects are necessary to facilitate further plant studies for anti-cervical cancer agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review generalizes and analyzes the current knowledge on the anti-cervical cancer properties and mechanisms involved for plants, and discusses the future prospects for the application of these plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review mainly focuses on the plants which have been scientifically tested in vitro and/or in vivo and proved as potential agents for the treatment of cervical cancer. The failure of conventional chemotherapy to reduce mortality as well as serious side effects involved makes natural products ideal candidates for exerting synergism and attenuation effects on anticancer drugs. Although the chemical components and mechanisms of action of natural plants with anti-cervical cancer potential have been investigated, many others remain unknown. More investigations and clinical trials are necessary to make use of these medical plants reasonably.
authors.affiliation: Second Military Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Shanghai 200433, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Su-Juan
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Jian
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lu-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003906:Developing Countries; D015195:Drug Design; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts