Anticancer Properties of Strobilanthes crispus: A Review

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, as exemplified by millions of cancer diagnoses every year. The use of chemotherapy in treating cancer has many disadvantages which include recurrence of cancer, associated with drug resistance, and severe side effects that are harmful to the patients. A better source of anticancer drugs can come from nature. Strobilanthes crispus (S. crispus) is a herbal medicinal plant that is indigenous in Madagascar and the Malay Archipelago. The plant possesses high vitamin and mineral content as well as phytochemicals—like phenols, catechins, tannins, and flavonoids—that are known to have therapeutic effects. Numerous preclinical studies have reported very versatile pharmacological effects of this plant, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetes, anti-ulcerogenic, and wound healing. Herein, this paper reviews the anticancer properties of S. crispus, providing information for future research and further exploration.