A Comprehensive Review of Ethnobotanical Studies on Traditional Indian Herbal Plants for Lung Cancer Management

Year : 2026 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 01 | Page : 1 7
    By

    Sparsh Shah,

  • Jayalekshmi M.,

  • Mahi Solanki,

  • Makwana Divya,

  • Karan Solanki,

  1. Student, B. Pharm, School of Pharmacy, Rai University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Rai University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  3. Student, B. Pharm, School of Pharmacy, Rai University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  4. Student, B. Pharm, School of Pharmacy, Rai University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  5. Student, B. Pharm, School of Pharmacy, Rai University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Current therapies for lung cancer are often limited by many side effects. This review compiles and evaluates ethnobotanical evidence and modern scientific findings of Indian herbal plants traditionally used for respiratory and tumor-related disorders, with a focus on their relevance to lung cancer management. Herbal phytochemicals and how they show their potent activities were also listed in this study. Traditional Indian plants can manage lung cancer via various mechanisms such as induction of apoptosis, inhibition of PI3K/Akt and STAT3 pathways, suppression of metastasis-related genes, modulation of oxidative stress, and enhancement of host immune responses. Quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, vincristine, vinblastine, matrine, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, paclitaxel, caffeic acid, etc. are the major phytochemicals which are responsible for the management of lung cancer. Plants, like Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Ocimum sanctum, Azadirachta indica, Andrographis paniculata, Phyllanthus amarus, Boerhavia diffusa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, & Zingiber officinale, are the few Indian plants has various derivatives of phytochemicals utilize to manage cancers in respiratory system. These plants exhibit anticancer activity in the control of lung cancer via different pathways like apoptosis (programmed cell death), arrest in cell division, angiogenesis inhibition & metastasis, alteration of oxidative stress and disruption of signaling pathways. This review study mainly focusing on various Indian plants utilizing in the management of lung cancer and their diverse pathways to induce the cancer cells. Also included artificial intelligence data in the diagnosis and monitoring. By bridging traditional knowledge and contemporary biomedical research, this review aims to accelerate development of plant-derived interventions that are safe, effective, and culturally appropriate for lung cancer management

Keywords: Ethnobotanical distribution, herbal plants, lung cancer, phytochemicals, traditional medicines

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science ]

How to cite this article:
Sparsh Shah, Jayalekshmi M., Mahi Solanki, Makwana Divya, Karan Solanki. A Comprehensive Review of Ethnobotanical Studies on Traditional Indian Herbal Plants for Lung Cancer Management. Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science. 2026; 15(01):1-7.
How to cite this URL:
Sparsh Shah, Jayalekshmi M., Mahi Solanki, Makwana Divya, Karan Solanki. A Comprehensive Review of Ethnobotanical Studies on Traditional Indian Herbal Plants for Lung Cancer Management. Research & Reviews : Journal of Herbal Science. 2026; 15(01):1-7. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjohs/article=2026/view=240306


Browse Figures

References

  1. Nooreldeen R, Bach H. Current and future development in lung cancer diagnosis. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 12;22(16):8661. doi: 10.3390/ijms22168661.
  2. Oliver AL. Lung cancer: Epidemiology and screening. Surg Clin North Am. 2022 Jun;102(3):335–344. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2021.12.001.
  3. Sakthivelu V, Schmitt A, Beleggia F. Functional synapses between neurons and small cell lung cancer. Nature. 2025 Oct;646(8087):1243–1253. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09434-9.
  4. Savchuk S, Gentry KM, Wang W, Carleton E, Venkatesh HS. Neuronal activity-dependent mechanisms of small cell lung cancer pathogenesis. Nature. 2025 Oct;646(8087):1232–1242. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09492-z.
  5. Xi Z, Dai R, Ze Y, Jiang X, Liu M, Xu H. Traditional Chinese medicine in lung cancer treatment. Mol Cancer. 2025 Feb 26;24(1):57. doi: 10.1186/s12943-025-02245-6.
  6. Ding Y, Hou R, Yu J, Xing C, Zhuang C, Qu Z. Dietary phytochemicals as potential chemopreventive agents against tobacco-induced lung carcinogenesis. Nutrients. 2023;15(3):491. doi: 10.3390/nu15030491.
  7. Lakshmi Sundaram R, Anand T, Saravanan KM, Prabhu K, Mohamed Yasar A, Vivek S, et al. Polyherbal formulation as a therapeutic strategy for lung cancer: Phytochemical profiling, molecular docking, and pharmacological evaluation. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2025 May 1;26(5):1841–1852. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2025.26.5.1841.
  8. Desai AG, Qazi GN, Ganju RK, El-Tamer M, Singh J, Saxena AK, et al. Medicinal plants and cancer chemoprevention. Curr Drug Metab. 2008 Sep;9(7):581–591. doi: 10.2174/138920008785821657.
  9. Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: A review of preclinical and clinical research. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):141–153. Erratum in: Altern Med Rev. 2009 Sep;14(3):277.
  10. Chen Q, Wang Y, Xu K, Lu G, Ying Z, Wu L, et al. Curcumin induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells through a reactive oxygen species-dependent mitochondrial signaling pathway. Oncol Rep. 2010 Feb;23(2):397–403.
  11. Choi EH, Son SU, Shin KS. Structural characterization of rhamnogalacturonan-I purified from Curcuma longa and its anti-lung cancer efficacy via immunostimulation. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2024 Jun 13;33(15):3591–3606. doi: 10.1007/s10068-024-01595-z.
  12. Chang HB, Chen BH. Inhibition of lung cancer cells A549 and H460 by curcuminoid extracts and nanoemulsions prepared from Curcuma longa Linnaeus. Int J Nanomedicine. 2015 Aug 5;10:5059–5080. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S87225.
  13. Sajida, Prabhu A. Anti-angiogenic, apoptotic and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory activity of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) on lung adenocarcinoma cells. Phytomedicine. 2021 Sep;90:153639. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153639.
  14. Kumar S, Mathew SO, Aharwal RP, Tulli HS, Mohan CD, Sethi G, et al. Withaferin A: A pleiotropic anticancer agent from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Jan 22;16(2):160. doi: 10.3390/ph16020160.
  15. Tewari D, Chander V, Dhyani A, Sahu S, Gupta P, Patni P, et al. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Phytochemistry, structure-activity relationship, and anticancer potential. Phytomedicine. 2022 Apr;98:153949. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.153949.
  16. Xia S, Miao Y, Liu S. Withaferin A induces apoptosis by ROS-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in human colorectal cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018;503(4):2363–2369. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.06.162.
  17. Budiatin AS, Sagitaras IB, Nurhayati IP, Khairah N, Nisak K, Susilo I, et al. Attenuation of hyperplasia in lung parenchymal and colonic epithelial cells in DMBA-induced cancer by administering Andrographis paniculata Nees extract using animal model. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2021 Jun 25;32(4):497–504. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0440.
  18. Li J, Liu X, Li J, Han D, Li Y, Ge P. Mechanism of Andrographis paniculata on lung cancer by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Technol Health Care. 2023;31(4):1407–1427. doi: 10.3233/THC-220698.
  19. Phuong TN, Duy Tai N, Aloufi AS, Subramani B, Theivaraj SD. In-vitro evaluation of antifungal, anti-lung cancer (A549), and anti-hyperglycemic activities potential of Andrographis paniculata flower extract. Environ Res. 2023 Dec 1;238(Pt 2):117249. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117249.
  20. Nath R, Baishya S, Nath D, Nahar L, Sarker SD, Choudhury MD, et al. Identifying druggable targets from active constituents of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. for non-small cell lung cancer using network pharmacology and validation through molecular docking. Phytochem Anal. 2023 Oct;34(7):855–868. doi: 10.1002/pca.3254.
  21. Muthu T, Adusumalli R, Vemuri SK, Indira Devi M, Pavan Kumar P, Banala RR, et al. Eco-biofabrication of silver nanoparticles from Azadirachta indica, Gymnema sylvestre, and Moringa oleifera for lung cancer treatment. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst. 2025 Jan 6;37(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s43046-024-00252-0.
  22. Dutt Y, Pandey RP, Dutt M, Gupta A, Vibhuti A, Raj VS, et al. Silver nanoparticles phytofabricated through Azadirachta indica: Anticancer, apoptotic, and wound-healing properties. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 9;12(1):121. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12010121.
  23. Kustiati U, Nugrahaningsih DAA, Kusindarta DL, Wihadmadyatami H. Lung cancer: Animal model of lung cancer, molecular carcinogenesis of lung cancer, and antitumor effect of Ocimum sanctum against lung cancer. Open Vet J. 2025 Feb;15(2):482–503. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i2.1.
  24. Kwak TK, Sohn EJ, Kim S, et al. Inhibitory effect of ethanol extract of Ocimum sanctum on osteopontin mediated metastasis of NCI-H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2014;14:419. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-419.
  25. Ranawat P, Kaur N, Koul A. Modulation of cigarette smoke induced alterations by aqueous Ocimum sanctum leaf extract in pulmonary tissue of rodents. Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 22;13(1):15806. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-26152-8.
  26. Wu T, Geng J, Guo W, Gao J, Zhu X. Asiatic acid inhibits lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo by destroying mitochondria. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2017 Jan;7(1):65–72. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2016.04.003.
  27. Han AR, Lee S, Han S, Lee YJ, Kim JB, Seo EK, et al. Triterpenoids from the leaves of Centella asiatica inhibit ionizing radiation-induced migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2020 Sep 15;2020:3683460. doi: 10.1155/2020/3683460.
  28. Zhao B, Li Y, Wang B, Liu J, Yang Y, Quan Q, et al. Uncovering the anti-angiogenic mechanisms of Centella asiatica via network pharmacology and experimental validation. Molecules. 2024 Jan 11;29(2):362. doi: 10.3390/molecules29020362.
  29. Huang J, Chen S, Shi Y, Li CH, Wang XJ, Li FJ, et al. Epigallocatechin gallate from green tea exhibits potent anticancer effects in A-549 non-small lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell migration. J BUON. 2017 Nov–Dec;22(6):1422–1427.
  30. Sonoda JI, Ikeda R, Baba Y, Narumi K, Kawachi A, Tomishige E, et al. Green tea catechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, attenuates the cell viability of human non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells via reducing Bcl-xL expression. Exp Ther Med. 2014 Jul;8(1):59–63. doi: 10.3892/etm.2014.1719.
  31. Wang H, Bian S, Yang CS. Green tea polyphenol EGCG suppresses lung cancer cell growth through upregulating miR-210 expression caused by stabilizing HIF-1α. Carcinogenesis. 2011 Dec;32(12):1881–1889. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgr218.
  32. Ishteyaque S, Mishra A, Mohapatra S, Singh A, Bhatta RS, Tadigoppula N, et al. In vitro cytotoxicity, apoptosis and ameliorative potential of Lawsonia inermis extract in human lung, colon and liver cancer cell line. Cancer Invest. 2020 Sep;38(8–9):476–485. doi: 10.1080/07357907.2020.1811300.
  33. Kapadia GJ, Rao GS, Sridhar R, Ichiishi E, Takasaki M, Suzuki N, et al. Chemoprevention of skin cancer: Effect of Lawsonia inermis L. leaf powder and its pigment artifact, lawsone. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2013 Dec;13(10):1500–1507. doi: 10.2174/18715206113139990096.
  34. Joyroy N, Ngiwsara L, Wannachat S, Mingma R, Svasti J, Wongchawalit J. Unveiling the potentials of Lawsonia inermis L.: Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer potentials. PeerJ. 2025 Apr 9;13:e19170. doi: 10.7717/peerj.19170.
  35. Lee CC, Houghton P. Cytotoxicity of plants from Malaysia and Thailand used traditionally to treat cancer. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Sep 14;100(3):237–243. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2005.01.064.
  36. Deng Y, Bao MF, Shi BB, Wu J, Cai XH. Three new indole alkaloids from Tabernaemontana divaricata. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2018 Jun;8(3):183–188. doi: 10.1007/s13659-018-0166-x.
  37. Ibrahim MA, Mohamed SR, Dkhil MA, Thagfan FA, Abdel-Gaber R, Soliman D. The effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts against urethane-induced lung cancer in rat model. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Mar;30(13):37280–37294. doi: 10.1007/s11356-022-24813-9.
  38. Singh A, Ohri D, Wolkenhauer O, Gautam NK, Gupta S, Singh KP. Exploring the therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera against lung cancer through network modeling and molecular docking analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Oct 20;26(20):10191. doi: 10.3390/ijms262010191.
  39. Shendge AK, Sarkar R, Mandal N. Terminalia chebula fruit showed in vitro anticancer activity on lung and breast carcinoma cells through regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-cascade pathways. J Food Biochem. 2020 Dec;44(12):e13521. doi: 10.1111/jfbc.13521.
  40. Pebam M, P SR, Gangopadhyay M, Thatikonda S, Rengan AK. Terminalia chebula polyphenol and near-infrared dye-loaded poly (lactic acid) nanoparticles for imaging and photothermal therapy of cancer cells. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2022 Nov 21;5(11):5333–5346. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00724.
  41. Devi ST, Kshetrimayum V, Heisnam R, Akula SJ, Radhakrishnanand P, Mukherjee PK, et al. Investigating the impact of Terminalia chebula on oral squamous cell carcinoma: Exploring cell death mechanisms. J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Mar 26;344:119482. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.119482.
  42. Yen DTH, Cuc NT, Tai BH, Van Kiem P, Hoang Duc M, Nhiem NX, et al. Two new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri and their cytotoxic activity. Nat Prod Res. 2024 Apr;38(7):1120–1126. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2022.2132498.
  43. Pei Q, Luo Y, Chen Y, Li J, Xie D, Ye T. Artificial intelligence in clinical applications for lung cancer: Diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2022 Jun 30;60(12):1974–1983. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0291.
  44. Quanyang W, Yao H, Sicong W, Linlin Q, Zewei Z, Donghui H, et al. Artificial intelligence in lung cancer screening: Detection, classification, prediction, and prognosis. Cancer Med. 2024 Apr;13(7):e7140. doi: 10.1002/cam4.7140.
  45. Adams SJ, Mikhael P, Wohlwend J, Barzilay R, Sequist LV, Fintelmann FJ. Artificial intelligence and machine learning in lung cancer screening. Thorac Surg Clin. 2023 Nov;33(4):401–409. doi: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2023.03.001.
  46. Mehta V, Chander H, Munshi A. Mechanisms of anti-tumor activity of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). Nutr Cancer. 2021;73(6):914–926. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1778746.
  47. Krishnamurthy PT, Vardarajalu A, Wadhwani A, Patel V. Identification and characterization of a potent anticancer fraction from the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera L. Indian J Exp Biol. 2015 Feb;53(2):98–103.
Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 15
Issue 01
Received 03/12/2025
Accepted 10/01/2026
Published 12/01/2026
Publication Time 40 Days
6

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics