Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets of Botanicals Derived from Asteraceae Plant Species.
Taliwe A, Lamula SQN, Buwa-Komoreng LV, Khwaza V
Medicinal Plants
Echinacea, chamomile, calendula, and yarrow growing in your garden belong to one of the most medicinally powerful plant families on Earth — and scientists are now mapping exactly which molecules make them work against inflammation and cancer.
The daisy family — which includes everyday plants like chamomile, echinacea, calendula, and sunflowers — is packed with natural chemicals that can calm inflammation and even slow cancer cell growth. Scientists reviewed studies from the last four years to figure out exactly how these chemicals interact with the body's own signaling systems. The findings suggest these plants aren't just folk remedies; they have real, measurable effects that could lead to new medicines.
Key Findings
Asteraceae plant compounds target multiple cancer and inflammation pathways simultaneously, including NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt — the same targets as many pharmaceutical drugs
Evidence spans in vitro (cell), in vivo (animal), and in silico (computer modeling) studies published 2022–2026, showing consistent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity across the family
Key mechanisms include antioxidant activity, suppression of inflammatory cytokines, enzyme inhibition (COX-2, iNOS), and triggering programmed cancer cell death via Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase regulation
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers reviewed how plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) fight inflammation and cancer at the molecular level. Their compounds target key disease pathways, making them strong candidates for new drug development.
Abstract Preview
The Asteraceae family represents one of the largest groups of medicinal plants, widely used in traditional medicine and increasingly investigated for its pharmacological potential. This review summ...
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