Am J Chin Med. 1980 Winter; 8(4): 301-6.

The use of herbs as anticancer agents.

Hsu B.

The effectiveness of certain herbal drugs as anticancer agents has been studied for many years in China by researchers in various disciplines. The preparations discussed here are: Camptothecin and hydroxycamptothecin; harringtonine and homoharringtonine; colchicine and colchicinamide; curzerenone; monocrotaline; lycobetaine; oridonin; indirubin; and cantharidin. The success of their use is encouraging but a great deal of research is required in the future.