Chapter 8 - Indian Berries and Their Active Compounds: Therapeutic Potential in Cancer Prevention

Abstract

Cancer is a major global health problem and leading cause of human death. Chemotherapy is one of the treatment option in many types of cancer along with other strategies. The chemotherapy associated problems such as toxicity, adverse side effects, and emergence of multi drug resistant in cancer cells necessitated search for novel anticancer products. Use of plant products and phytocompounds, from food and medicinal plants, is well-recognized in cancer treatment. Various medicinal plants have received specific attention of the scientists in search of bioactive anticancer compounds and understanding their mode of action. Berries are known for their nutritional and therapeutic value since long. Indian berries mainly Syzygium cumini (Jamun), Phyllanthus emblica (Amla), and others (Solanum nigrum, Withania coagulans, Zanthoxylum armatum, Morinda citrifolia, Physalis peruviana) have been investigated in the last two decades for their chemotherapeutic potential against cancer and characterization of their bioactive compounds. In this chapter we attempted to provide an overview on the recent updates on Indian berries, their bioactive compounds, mode of action against cancer cells, and their therapeutic potential.