Evidence for Edible Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Alternative Approach for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer lethality worldwide, inflicting a heavy burden on society. Unfortunately, the complex nature of CRC pathogenesis renders current chemotherapies and targeted therapies unsatisfactory. Conventional medicine generally concentrates on the killing of tumor cells by inducing cell death or activation of the immune system, which often leads to adverse effects or relapsed chemoresistance. On the contrary, Chinese medicine theory pays attention to the patients’ whole inner system and helps to shrink the tumor with consideration of overall body condition. Since numerous Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) are used as food, the edible CHMs as diet resources therapy represent a promising alternative for the treatment of CRC. Recent research has made remarkable progress toward the therapeutic effects of edible CHM for CRC. In this review, experimental CRC models, the holistic characteristic of edible CHM, and recent research on the efficacy and mechanisms of edible CHM as anti-CRC agents are discussed, as well as the safety aspect of edible CHM.