MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR SECONDARY METABOLITES EFFECTIVE AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Objective: This study aims at reviewing an evidence-based approach to medicinal plants for the supportive treatment of breast cancer. Material and Method: The subject databases for health sciences are considered for comprehensive search of the literature in terms of medicinal plants for the treatment of breast cancer. An electronic search for previously published articles was conducted in Medline citations and key citation indexes such as Scopus and Web of Science. Result and Discussion: A certain part of the medicines used in breast cancer are derived from plants. Some plants can protect the body from malignancy with their detoxification mechanism. Some medicinal plants that modify the biological response can prevent cancer development by modifying activities of hormones and enzymes. Some plants can support the treatment by reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this review, in addition to 14 medicinal plants some sources consumed as fruits and vegetables. that may have potential effects on breast cancer are discussed. Although Turkey is one of the richest countries in terms of large flora and endemic medicinal plants, sufficient number of cancer research and clinical trials on breast cancer are not considered enough