Emilia Biczak, Oliwia Biegańska, Grzegorz Przywara, Klaudia Suchańska, Krzysztof Gadzalski, Julita Kulbacka

Adaptogens as adjuvants in cancer treatment: searching for synergy with conventional therapies
2024-07-25

Adaptogens are a group of plant-based raw materials or substances contained within them that are used in natural medicine and supplementation. They have properties that enhance the body’s resistance and help maintain homeostasis. The effect of adaptogens is associated with the modulation of processes at the genetic, protein, and metabolic levels; thus, they can protect the body from oxidative stress, stimulate the immune response, and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.

Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that adaptogens can be effective as adjuvants in cancer chemotherapy. For example, combining cytostatics with extracts from Emblica officinalis, Glycyrrhiza inflata, Ganoderma lucidum, Withania somnifera, Astragalus membranaceus, and Rhodiola rosea proved effective in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and Cordyceps sinensis, Withania somnifera, Ganoderma lucidum, Emblica officinalis, Glycyrrhiza inflata, and Astragalus membranaceus demonstrated synergistic anti-tumor effects with lung cancer chemotherapy. Positive effects were observed when breast cancer chemotherapy was combined with extracts from Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ganoderma lucidum, and Rhodiola rosea. The additional use of Emblica officinalis, Withania somnifera, and Ganoderma lucidum enhanced the effectiveness of ovarian cancer chemotherapy.

It has been demonstrated that Withania somnifera, Centella asiatica, and Cordyceps sinensis can increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiotherapy and protect healthy cells from its cytotoxic effects. Adaptogens can alleviate many side effects of chemotherapy, such as myelosuppression, damage to the intestinal barrier, cancer cachexia, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. They have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, preventing inflammation of the oral mucosa, which is a complication of head and neck radiotherapy. Improvement in the quality of life has been confirmed in cancer patients using adaptogens.

The article describes adaptogens that have been studied in combination with conventional therapies and adaptogens that have not yet been explored in this regard. This opens up a broad perspective for future scientific research that could enable the use of adaptogens as adjuvants in conventional cancer therapies in the future.

Keywords: adaptogens, adjuvants, tumor, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, side effects.

© Farm Pol, 2024, 80(3): 173–187