The use of phytotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma – a systematic review

Authors

  • Cristina P. URSU 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Emil I. MOIȘ 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Luminița E. FURCEA 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Rodica S. POP “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, 8 V. Babeș, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Ștefan URSU 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Diana SCHLANGER 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Andra CIOCAN 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Florin V. ZAHARIE 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Aida PUIA “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, 8 V. Babeș, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Nadim AL HAJJAR 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)
  • Florin GRAUR 3rd Surgery Department, “Prof. Dr. Octavian Fodor” Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400162 Cluj-Napoca; “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, 19-21-23 Croitorilor, 400012 Cluj-Napoca (RO)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha51113084

Keywords:

hepatocellular carcinoma, medicinal herbs, traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Korean medicine

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumours and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The aim of this review is to identify whether phytotherapy has an effect over the treatment of HCC or if it is suitable as a combination with chemotherapy. A systematic review was performed in order to offer current information over the use of phytotherapy in HCC. We conducted an electronic search of articles published in English in peer reviewed journals between 2012-2022. After keywords were associated, 302 articles were found. After the exclusion of articles which did not meet the inclusion criteria, there were 77 articles eligible for abstract evaluation. The following were discarded: two case report, one systematic review, 36 in vitro studies and nine studies which discussed other pathologies or with no regard to phytotherapy. The remaining articles encompassed 27 in vivo studies of phytotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma and two randomized control trials. This selection process is illustrated in the Prisma Flow Diagram. Amongst the evaluated articles, two of them researched the effect of phytotherapy over human subjects in two randomized control trials, while the others illustrated the outcomes of phytotherapy over hepatocellular carcinoma cells and murine specimens. To sum up, phytotherapy has proven its usefulness in hepatocellular carcinoma, especially throughout the following mechanisms: anti-inflammatory effect, suppressing malignant cell proliferation, inhibiting angiogenesis, stimulating apoptosis, and even sensitizing cells to chemotherapy.

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Published

2023-03-30

How to Cite

URSU, C. P., MOIȘ, E. I., FURCEA, L. E., POP, R. S., URSU, Ștefan, SCHLANGER, D., CIOCAN, A., ZAHARIE, F. V., PUIA, A., AL HAJJAR, N., & GRAUR, F. (2023). The use of phytotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma – a systematic review. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 51(1), 13084. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha51113084

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Review Articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nbha51113084

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Copyright (c) 2023 Cristina P. URSU, Emil I. MOIȘ, Luminița E. FURCEA, Rodica S. POP, Ștefan URSU, Diana SCHLANGER, Andra CIOCAN, Florin V. ZAHARIE, Aida PUIA, Nadim AL HAJJAR, Florin GRAUR

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