Chapter 9: Plants with anticancer potency for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is the most common fast growing leading cause of morbidity and mortality in female patients across the worldwide including developed as well as developing countries. The worldwide weight of breast cancer malignancy is relied upon to cross 2 million constantly 2030across the globe. The increased mortality rate of breast cancer is due to the late diagnosis, low levels of awareness, socio-economic condition, educational background, low effectiveness of the treatment and incomplete treatment regimens. Although various advancement was made in treatment of breast cancer but still there are a space for the effective treatment. This space is the undesirable effect of chemotherapy. Plants are the indispensible source of medicinal lead molecule for the remedy of breast cancer. The curative properties of these lead molecules are present in various parts of the plant in the form of low molecular mass substance known as secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites are glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics and compounds containing sulphur element. The mechanism behind these secondary metabolites is the inhibition of initiation of apoptosis, arrest of cell cycle at G1/G2, M phase, up/down regulation of various gene and DNA damage. The present chapter provide updated information about the mechanism of breast cancer and therapies including natural plant extract and isolated lead molecules.