SYSTEMATIC REVIEW: THE SYNERGISM OF CONVENTIONAL ANTI CANCER AGENTS WITH SECONDARY METABOLITE COMPOUNDS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR AS ANTI BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Immediate treatment is required for this condition. However, undesirable side effects can occur during conventional cancer treatment. Secondary metabolite compounds derived from plants are the most popular alternative treatments for reducing side effects. Various medicinal plant compounds have been identified that exhibit anti-BC properties. This review aimed to summarize the research on the synergistic effects of secondary metabolite compounds of medicinal plants-drug interactions, with a focus on BC treatment. The method of this study was carried out systematically by searching articles from databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct for original research articles and using the keywords "drug synergism, herbal, and breast cancer treatment". The potential of combining herbal medicines or natural products with conventional drugs has been systematically explored in several studies. The screening results showed that 13 studies on the synergistic effect of chemical compounds from medicinal plants have a significant BC therapeutic effect when used with conventional drugs. Most studies have been conducted in vitro, but there is also one clinical trial in which treatment with the curcumin-paclitaxel combination was superior to paclitaxel monotherapy. Exploring the synergistic effects of combinations is technically demanding and complex, including in the context of drug or herb interactions, but is likely to provide significant progress in BC treatment. In conclusion, all secondary metabolites of medicinal plants listed in this review have synergistic effects with BC drugs.

Keywords: Synergism, conventional drugs, secondary metabolite compounds, BC treatment