Chapter 7 Medicinal bioactivity: anti-cancerous and anti-HIV activity of medicinal plants

Cancer is globally recognized to be a major public health disease that severely affects the human population in the developed countries along with the developing countries. It is considered to be the second main reason for morbidity and increasing mortality rate after cardiovascular ailments. Despite much room of advancement toward in-depth understanding of this life-threatening ailment along with the proposition of varying methods for initial stage diagnosis, a growing range of drugs, and treatment modalities, it is anticipated that the subsequent decade will globally give rise to 20 million new cases per year. In this deliberation there arises a surging exigency for new and unprecedented remedial measures aimed at treatment and prevention of this carcinogenic disease. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is another viral and lethal disease which is primarily triggered by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The primary aim of this disease is allied with suppression of immune system, thereby making the body inert to external impetuses. The observatory data obtained from global health unveils that since epidemic over 78 million people were under the clutches of HIV leading to the death of almost 39 million people worldwide. At present to combat against HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been extensively explored. However, ART is allied with fatal complexities viz. lipodystrophy which curtails its real-day applicability. Owing to the present challenges of anticancer drugs and antiretroviral therapies, scientific and research interest is seeking immense magnetism toward advanced and proficient naturally derived compounds owing to their reduced noxious side effects in comparison to the contemporary treatment methodologies. In the current scenario this has instigated innovative vistas in search of natural anticancer and antiretroviral drugs that are derived from plants since plant-derived products serve to be a reservoir underlying the discovery of new clinical medicines. This chapter systematically consolidates the efficacious nature of the plants or their synthetic derivatives that give rise to naturally producing secondary metabolites, thereby enabling it to display clinical activity. The commercial contemplations and future prospects for treatment of cancer and HIV by employing phytoremediation approach are also well summarized herein.