title: Anticancer effects of traditional Chinese herbs with phlegm-eliminating properties - An overview.
abstract: Cancer is considered to be the second leading cause of human death. It is unsatisfactory that in the past decades, the treatment for cancer has not progressed as fast as it was expected, as only 50% of newly diagnosed patients could be cured even today. The development of cancer is a multifactorial process, involving tumor cells themselves, the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironments, as well as the interactions between tumor cells and the host's immunity. Focusing on any single goal may bring limited benefits.
  Phlegm-eliminating herbs, which can reduce phlegm and eliminate pathological metabolites, are commonly used to treat cancer in China. However, the underlying molecular targets and efficacy of herbal medicines in cancer treatment still remain unclear. In this study, we reviewed the potential anticancer mechanisms of some phlegm-eliminating herbs and their active ingredients from the articles through such scientific databases as MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the anticancer mechanisms of phlegm-eliminating herbs and ingredients include inducing apoptosis, anti-proliferation, preventing tumor invasion and metastasis, and reducing resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, some phlegm-eliminating herbs and their ingredients have anti-inflammatory and anti-metabolic syndrome effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the phlegm-eliminating herbs and ingredients are potential candidates for anticancer treatment and cancer prevention by playing a comprehensive role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Li-Juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Xiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Da-Zhi
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Peng
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China. Electronic address: czzyk73@163.com.
authors.forename: Pin-Kang
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China. Electronic address: yuexiaoqiang@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D009093:Mucus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: 3׳,4׳,3,5,6,7,8-heptamethoxyflavone (PubChem CID: 150893); Cancer; Herb; Phlegm; Traditional Chinese medicine; deapioplatycodin D (PubChem CID: 86578026); glycoprotein (PubChem CID: 439212); hesperidin (PubChem CID: 10621); limonin (PubChem CID: 179651); nobiletin (PubChem CID: 72344); platycodin D (PubChem CID: 162859); tangeretin (PubChem CID: 68077); verticinone (PubChem CID: 167691)