Skip to main content

Table 2 Medicinal plants used for treatment of cancer in the West Bank regions/Palestine

From: Ethnopharmacological survey of herbal remedies used for treatment of various types of cancer and their methods of preparations in the West Bank-Palestine

 

Scientific names/Common names/Arabic names/Voucher specimen code

Family

Part used, method of preparation (herbal formulation) and dosages

Cancer Type

Preparation method and administration

UV

1.

Allium cepa L./Onion / Basal/ Pharm-PCT-2703

Amaryllidaceae

Bulb/About 20–40 ml of the bulb juice is to be given orally 7–8 times daily for four weeks.

Lung and stomach

Fresh bulb (oral)

0.29

2.

Allium sativum L./ Garlic/Thom/ Pharm-PCT-2704

Amaryllidaceae

Bulb/2–3 fresh cloves are eaten raw three times daily with meals.

Lung, Esophageal and breast

Fresh bulb (oral)

0.46

3.

Mangifera indica L./ Mango/ Manga/ Pharm-PCT-2725

Anacardiaceae

Fruits/About 300 ml of fresh fruit juice is to be given orally three times daily.

Colon

Fresh juice (oral)

0.09

4.

Pistacia palaestina Boiss./ Mastic tree, Lentisk/ Sirees/ Pharm-PCT-1870

Anacardiaceae

Leaves/Powdered leaves mixed with goat fat as paste, applied externally twice daily on cancer area.

Skin

Paste (topical)

0.59

5.

Annona muricata L. / Soursop/ Keshta/ Pharm-PCT-2726

Annonaceae

Fruit/One fresh fruit boiled with 100 ml syrup for five minutes; 20 ml of the produced syrup is to be given orally three times daily.

Bladder, prostate and colon

Syrup (oral)

0.32

6.

Daucus guttatus Sm. / Wild Carrot/ Jazar barry/ Pharm-PCT-832

Apiaceae

Seeds/About 100–130 powdered seeds steeped in water for 12 hours; 100 ml from the produced infusion is to be orally given four times daily.

Skin

Infusion (oral)

0.02

7.

Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss/ Parsley/ Bokdonas/ Pharm-PCT-2739

Apiaceae

Fruits/About 500–600 grams from the ground dry fruits boiled with one liter water for 30 minutes; 300 ml of this decoction is to be given orally three times daily.

Kidney and bladder

Decoction (oral)

0.16

8.

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand./ Apple of Sodom, (mudar)/ A’oshar basek/ Pharm-PCT-472

Apocynaceae

Aerial parts (latex)/ Ten grams from air dried latex from the fruits is boiled with 40 ml water; 20 ml of this decoct is to be given twice daily.

Skin

Decoction (oral)

0.61

9.

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don/ Vinca/ Wanaky/ Pharm-PCT-2728

Apocynaceae

Entire plant/About 25grams from the powdered plant mixed with 30 ml water; this paste is applied topically once daily.

Skin

Paste (topical)

0.47

10.

Nerium oleander L./Oleander/ Dafla/ Pharm-PCT-1636

Apocynaceae

Entire plant/About 20 grams from the powdered plant are mixed with 50 grams lanolin; this cream is applied topically on the skin cancer area directly 4–5 times daily.

Skin

Cream (topical)

0.53

11.

Arum dioscoridis Sm./ Spotted arum/ loof mobarkash/ Pharm-PCT-243

Araceae

Leaves/Boil about 10 grams of the dried leaves with 100 ml water, fifty ml of this decoction is to be given orally before meal.

Liver and stomach

Decoction (oral)

0.66

12.

Arum palaestinum Boiss./ Cuckoo pint / loof/ Pharm-PCT-246

Araceae

Leaves/Boil about 10 grams of the dried leaves with 150 ml water, fifty ml of this decoction is to be given orally three times daily before meals.

Liver, colon, kidney and breast

Decoction (oral)

0.63

13.

Polygonatum multiflorum (L.) All./ David's harp / Khatem Soleyman/ Pharm-PCT-2727

Asparagaceae

Rhizomes/Steep 2 grams from the powdered rhizomes with 100 ml water for 5 hours; 20 ml from this infusion is to be given orally three times daily.

Liver, brain and spinal cord

Infusion (oral)

0.60

14.

Brassica oleracea L./Cabbage/ malfof/ Pharm-PCT-1930

Brassicaceae

Leaves/100 ml from the fresh cabbage leaf juice is to be given 7–9 times daily.

Liver

Fresh juice (oral)

0.46

15.

Sinapis arvensis L./Wild mustard/ Khardal/ Pharm-PCT-2284

Brassicaceae

Seeds/Powdered seeds (2 g) given orally twice daily.

Bone

Powder (oral)

0.47

16.

Capparis spinosa L./Caper bush/ Cobar/ Pharm-PCT-496

Capparaceae

Roots/Crushed fresh roots (100 grams) mixed with 10 ml water, made into paste then applied topically once daily.

Bones cancer

Paste (topical)

0.47

17.

Colchicum hierosolymitanum L./ Colchicum/Lohlah/Pharm-PCT-644

Colchicaceae

Seeds/50 grams from the ground seeds mixed with 100 grams lanolin a are applied topically once daily on the tumor area.

Skin

Cream (topical)

0.53

18.

Achillea aleppica DC./

Yarrow/ Kaysoom/ Pharm-PCT-16

Compositae

Aerial parts/Steep 15grams from the plant with 100 ml water for 2 hours, 10 ml from this infusion is to be given internally twice daily.

Liver

Infusion (oral)

0.11

19.

Cichorium endivia L./Common chicory/ Shokar/ Pharm-PCT-617

Compositae

Flowers/Steep 100 grams from the plant with 100 ml water for 2 hours; 30 ml from this infusion is to be given once daily.

Stomach and colon

Infusion(oral)

0.22

20.

Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton/False Yellow head/ Tayon/ Pharm-PCT-2738

Compositae

Leaves/ Boil about 20 grams from the flowers with 100 ml water; 30 ml of this decoction is to be given orally three times daily before meals.

Kidney and bladder

Decoction (oral)

0.32

21.

Matricaria aurea (Loefl.) Sch.Bip./ Golden Chamomile/Babonaj thahabi/ Pharm-PCT-1519

Compositae

Flowers/ In case of lung cancer: Boil 50 grams flowers with 500 ml water; the vapor is inhaled twice daily for 10 minutes each time.

In case of liver and prostate cancers: Boil 30 grams from the flowers with 300 ml water for 15 minutes; 100 ml from the decoction is to be given orally twice daily.

Lung, liver and prostate

Vapor inhalation

0.47

22.

Onopordum cynarocephalum subsp./Artichoke Cotton-thistle/ kondrees/ Pharm-PCT-1692

Compositae

Flowers/ Steep 50 grams of the dried flowers with 100 ml water for one night; 50 ml from this infusion is to be given three times daily.

Stomach and colon

Infusion (oral)

0.23

23.

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn./Milk thistle Khorfeesh/Pharm-PCT-2282

Compositae

Stalk/ 30 drops of celery stalk fresh juice is to be given orally every three hours.

Colon and skin cancer

Fresh juice (oral)

0.32

24.

Taraxacum syriacum Boiss./ Common dandelion/Hindeba/ Pharm-PCT-2396

Compositae

Leaves/ Boil about 60 grams from the dried powdered plant with 100 ml water for 15 minutes; entire decoction is to be given 3–5 times daily.

Pancreatic and gallbladder stomach

Decoction (oral)

0.35

25.

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad./ Bitter Gourd/Hanthal/Pharm-PCT-628

Cucurbitaceae

Fruits/ About 150 grams from the powdered dried fruits mixed with equal quantity of lanolin; the produced cream applied topically twice daily.

Skin

Cream (topical)

0.13

26.

Cucumis sativus L./cucumber/ kheyar/ Pharm-PCT-2737

Cucurbitaceae

Seeds/ Steep 4grams of the ground seeds with 100 ml water for 12 hours; 10 ml from this infusion is to be given three times daily

Colon

Infusion (oral)

0.07

27.

Ecballium elaterium (L.) A.Rich./ Exploding cucumber / Ketha’ alhemar/ Pharm-PCT-870

Cucurbitaceae

Fruits (juice)/ / One fresh fruit pulp (about 25gram) juice is to be orally given five times daily

Throat and liver

Fresh juice (oral)

0.17

28.

Ephedra alata Decne./ Ephedra/ Alanda/ Pharm-PCT-904

Ephedraceae

Entire plant/ About 100 grams of the powdered plant boiled with 500 ml water for 5 minutes; 100 ml of this decoction is to be given orally twice a day.

Brain, liver and colon

Decoction (oral)

0.72

29.

Arbutus andrachne L./Greek Strawberry Tree/ Kotlob/ Pharm-PCT-213

Ericaceae

Fruits/ Boil 50 grams of the ground fruits with 100 ml water and 100 gram sugar; 20 ml of the produced syrup is to be given orally 5–6 times daily.

Stomach

Syrup (oral)

0.06

30.

Euphorbia hierosolymitana Boiss./ Spurge/Halablabon/Pharm-PCT-988

Euphorbiaceae

Entire plant/ Boil 50 grams from the plant with 150 ml water for 10 minutes; 5 ml of this decoction is to be given each 8 hours.

Ovarian, breast and prostate

Decoction (oral)

0.59

31.

Quercus calliprinos Webb/ Palestine oak/ Baloot/ Pharm-PCT-1978

Fagaceae

Fruits/ Boil about 20 grams from the fruits with 100 ml water, 20 ml of this decoction is to be given four times daily.

Colorectal

Decoction (oral)

0.11

32.

Quercus ithaburensis Decne./ Valonia oak/Sendnyan/ Pharm-PCT-1980

Fagaceae

Bark/ Mix 30 grams of the powdered bark with 100 ml lanolin then apply this cream on the cancer area.

Skin

Cream (topical)

0.13

33.

Hypericum perforatum L./St.John’s Wort/ Oshbat ala’ran/Pharm-PCT-2734

Hypericaceae

Flowers/ About 100 grams of the powdered flowers with 100 ml olive oil then filtered and 20 ml of the produced infusion is to be given orally twice daily.

Brain

Infused in olive oil (oral)

0.05

34.

Crocus sativus L./ Saffron/ Za’faran/ Pharm-PCT-2733

Iridaceae

Flowers/ Two grams of Saffron powder steeped in 300 ml camel milk; this milk infusion is to be given early morning once daily.

Liver and kidney

Infusion (oral)

0.46

35.

Melissa officinalis L./Balm mint/ Torenjan/ Pharm-PCT-1564

Lamiaceae

Aerial parts/ About 10 grams of the fresh leaves are given orally five times daily.

Lung and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Fresh plant (oral)

0.27

36.

Origanum jordanicum Danin & Kunne/Thyme/Za'atar/Pharm-PCT-1729

Lamiaceae

Leaves/ About 50 grams of the leaves boiled in 500 ml water; inhale vapor three times daily, five minutes each time.

Lung, throat cancer

Vapor inhalation

0.15

37.

Rosmarinus officinalis L./ Rosemary/ Hasa alban/ Pharm-PCT-2732

Lamiaceae

Leaves/ About 20 grams of the leaves boiled in 600 ml water; inhale vapor three times daily, about ten minutes each time.

Lung cancer

Vapor inhalation

0.10

38.

Salvia fruticosa Mill./ Sage/ Maryamya/ Pharm-PCT-2117

Lamiaceae

Aerial parts/ Boil about 70 grams from the leaves with 300 ml water, the decoction is to be given four times daily.

Colon and liver

Decoction (oral)

0.26

39.

Salvia palaestina Benth./Kosa’en(kharna) falestini/ Pharm-PCT-2124

Lamiaceae

Leaves/ Fifteen grams of the leaves steeped with 100 ml water for 12 hours; 10 ml from this infusion is to be given twice a day.

Brain

Infusion (oral)

0.19

40.

Teucrium capitatum L./ Teucrium/ Ja’da/ Pharm-PCT-2407

Lamiaceae

Entire plant/ About 150 grams of the plant boiled for 10 minutes with water; 30 ml from the produced decoction is to be given once daily.

Pancreatic and liver

Decoction (oral)

0.42

41.

Laurus nobilis L. / Bay/ Gaar/ Pharm-PCT-1366

Lauraceae

Leaves/ Ten grams from the dried leaves boiled with 100 ml water; 20 ml of this decoction is to be given before meals 3–4 times daily

Prostate

Decoction (oral)

0.25

42.

Alhagi graecorum Boiss./

Camel-thorn/ ala’alook/ Pharm-PCT-65

Leguminosae

Fruits/ About 50 grams from the dried fruits boiled in 300 ml water; 10 ml of this decoction is to be given orally twice daily.

Glandular

Decoction (oral)

0.13

43.

Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc./ Soy/ Soya/ Pharm-PCT-2731

Leguminosae

Seeds/ About 100 grams of the seeds boiled in 500 ml water; 100 ml of this decoction is to be given orally 5–7 times daily.

Breast, ovarian and Hodgkin lymphoma

Decoction (oral)

0.19

44.

Ononis viscosa subsp. sicula (Guss.) Hub.-Mor./ spiny restharrow/ Shabrak(wassem)/ Pharm-PCT-1686

Leguminosae

Entire plant/ About 20–30 grams from the powdered plant boiled in 350 ml water; 10 ml of this decoction is to be given twice daily.

Prostate, stomach and breast

Decoction (oral)

0.07

45.

Linum usitatissimum L./ Flax/ Ketan/ Pharm-PCT-2735

Linaceae

Seeds/ Ground Seed (10 grams) are to be given orally three times daily.

Ovarian, breast and colon

Powder (oral)

0.19

46.

Lawsonia inermis L./ Henna / Hena/ Pharm-PCT-2736

Lythraceae

Leaves/ A paste from crushed fresh leaves (about 30 grams) are applied externally to affected areas.

Skin

Paste (topical)

0.22

47.

Punica granatum L./ Pomegranate/ Romman/ Pharm-PCT-2730

Lythraceae

Fruits (peels)/ About 500 grams of the fruit peels boiled in 1 liter water with 1000 grams sugar; 50 ml of this syrup is to be given twice daily.

Colorectal

Syrup (oral)

0.27

48.

Ficus sycomorus L./ Sycamore Fig / Jomeez/ Pharm-PCT-1030

Moraceae

Fruits/ One fresh fruit is boiled with 100 ml syrup for five minute; 20 ml of the syrup is to be given orally 4–6 times daily.

Lung

Syrup (oral)

0.19

49.

Psidium guajava L./ Guava /Juafa/ Pharm-PCT-2720

Myrtaceae

Leaves/ A decoction of 100 grams leaves is prepared in one liter water; 2–3 cups are taken orally per day until improvement occurs.

Lung and stomach

Decoction (oral)

0.19

50.

Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers. / Broomrape/ Halook/ Pharm-PCT-1746

Orobanchaceae

Roots/ About 500 grams of the ground roots boiled in one liter water for 30 minutes,; 50 ml of this decoction is to be given orally once daily.

Ovarian and breast

Decoction (oral)

0.21

51.

Trifolium philistaeum var. filifolium Zohary/ Palestine Clover/ Barsem/ Pharm-PCT-2493

Papilionaceae

Flowers/ About 50 grams of the flowers boiled in 60 ml water; 30 ml of this decoction is to be taken internally twice a day.

Ovarian, breast and non Hodgkin lymphoma

Decoction (oral)

0.14

52.

Plantago lanceolata L./ narrowleaf plantain/ Lesan alhamal/ Pharm-PCT-1887

Plantaginaceae

Leaves/ About 500 grams of the leaves boiled in 500 ml water; 100 ml of this decoction is to be taken internally 3–5 times a day.

Throat

Decoction (oral)

0.29

53.

Triticum aestivum L./ Bread wheat/ Kameh/ Pharm-PCT-2540

Poaceae

Seeds (husk)/ Powdered seed husks (10 grams) are given orally three times daily.

Colon

Powder (oral)

0.44

54.

Portulaca oleracea L./ Little Hogweed/ Farfahena/ Pharm-PCT-1935

Portulacaceae

Aerial parts/ About 100 grams of the plant boiled in 500 ml water; 30 ml of this decoction is to be taken 3–5 times a day.

Stomach and esophageal

Decoction (oral)

0.47

55.

Cyclamen persicum Mill./ Cyclamen/ Sapoon alraa’e/ Pharm-PCT-777

Primulaceae

Roots/ Twenty five grams of the ground roots boiled in 350 ml water; 30 ml of this decoction is to be given orally twice daily.

Prostate and bladder

Decoction (oral)

0.21

56.

Nigella arvensis L./ Black cumin / Kezha/ Pharm-PCT-1640

Ranunculaceae

Seeds/ About 100 grams of the ground seeds boiled in 330 ml water for 10–15 minutes; this decoction is to be taken 4–5 times daily

Lung, brain and skin

Decoction (oral)

0.49

57.

Ziziphus spina-christi (L.)Desf./ Christ's Thorn Jujube/ Cedar/ Pharm-PCT-2693

Rhamnaceae

Flowers/ About 100 grams of the flowers boiled in 500 ml water; 50 ml of this decoction is to be given internally 4–7 times daily.

Lung

Decoction (oral)

0.31

58.

Crataegus azarolus L./ Azarole Hawthorn/ Za’ror/ Pharm-PCT-712

Rosaceae

Fruits/ One kilogram of fresh fruit boiled with 1000 ml syrup for 30 minute; 50 ml of the syrup is to be given 5–6 times per day.

Lung

Syrup (oral)

0.41

59.

Galium aparine L./ Stickyweed/ Satoor/ Pharm-PCT-1069

Rubiaceae

Leaves/ Fifty grams of the leaves steeped with 100 ml water for one night; 10 ml from this infusion is to be given twice daily.

Hodgkin Lymphoma

Infusion (oral)

0.11

60.

Salix alba L./ White Salix/ Sofsaf abyad/ Pharm-PCT-2093

Salicaceae

Bark/ About 60 grams from the plant boiled with 500 ml water for 10 minutes; 50 ml of this decoction is to be given orally each 6 hours.

Colon

Decoction (oral)

0.19

61.

Viscum cruciatum Sieber ex Boiss./ Mistletoe/ hedal/ Pharm-PCT-2662

Santalaceae

Leaves/ About 500 grams from the powdered plant boiled with one liter water for 10 minutes; 50 drops of this decoction is to be given three times daily.

Esophageal

Decoction (oral)

0.51

62.

Acer obtusifolium Sm./ Syrian Maple/ Kaikab/ Pharm-PCT-15

Sapindaceae

Fruits/ About 500 grams of the fresh fruits boiled with 100 ml water and 100 gram sugar; 20 ml of the resulting syrup is to be given 6–8 times per day.

Throat and lung

Syrup (oral)

0.21

63.

Verbascum sinuatum L./ Mullein/ A’awarwar/ Pharm-PCT-2604

Scrophulariaceae

Leaves/ Five grams of the leaves boiled with 150 ml water for 30 minutes; 15 ml of this decoction is to be given orally twice daily.

Breast

Decoction (oral)

0.59

64.

Capsicum annuum L/ Chili pepper/ Shatta/ Pharm-PCT-2729

Solanaceae

Fruits/ Four fruits (100 grams) from the plant boiled with 200 ml water for 20 minutes; 5 drops of this decoction is to be given orally each 8 hours.

Skin, bladder

Decoction (oral)

0.16

65.

Lycium europaeum L./ Box thorn/ A’wsaj/ Pharm-PCT-1487

Solanaceae

Fruit/ About half kilogram from the fruit boiled with 500 ml water for one hour; 50 ml of this decoction is to be given once daily.

Bladder, prostate and breast

Decoction (oral)

0.37

66.

Mandragora autumnalis Mill./Mandrake/ Tofah almajan/ Pharm-PCT-1509

Solanaceae

Fruits/ Ten grams from the plant boiled with100 ml water for 30 minutes, 5 drops of this decoction is to be given twice daily.

Lung

Decoction (oral)

0.21

67.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal/ Ashwagandha/ A’eba’b monawem/ Pharm-PCT-2678

Solanaceae

Roots/ About 50 grams of the ground roots steeped with 100 ml water for 24 hours; 10 ml from this infusion is to be given twice daily.

Esophageal, skin and prostate

Infusion (oral)

0.19

68.

Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze /Green Tea/ Shae akhdar/ Pharm-PCT-2706

Theaceae

Leaves/ About 50 grams from the plant boiled with 300 ml water for 10 minutes; this decoction is to be given 6–8 times daily.

Breast, lung and ovarian

Decoction (oral)

0.31

69.

Daphne linearifolia L./ Mezereon/ Mazeryon/ Pharm-PCT-825

Thymelaeaceae

Fruits/ A decoction is prepared from 7 to 8 fruits (about 100 grams) boiled in 1 liter water and taken orally, 1 ml two times per day and taken for 14 days.

Lung

Decoction (oral)

0.04

70.

Urtica urens L./ Small Nettle/ Korees harek/ Pharm-PCT-2562

Urticaceae

Aerial parts/ About 100–120 grams of the plant boiled with 500 ml water for 30 minutes; 50 ml of the decoction is to be given three times daily.

Bones and stomach

Decoction (oral)

0.51

71.

Curcuma longa L./ Turmeric/ Korkom/ Pharm-PCT-2709

Zingiberaceae

Rhizomes/ About 500 grams from the ground dry rhizomes boiled with one liter water for 30 minutes; 300 ml of this decoction is to be given orally three times daily.

Prostate, bladder and liver

Decoction (oral)

0.53

72.

Zingiber officinale Roscoe/ Ginger/ Zangabil/ Pharm-PCT-2724

Zingiberaceae

Rhizomes/ About 100 grams of the ground dry rhizomes are boiled in 300 ml water for 10 minutes and given twice daily after meals.

Stomach and liver

Infusion (oral)

0.51