REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Pharmacology of Anti-Cancer Drugs
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1662341
This article is part of the Research TopicEnhancing Cancer Therapy: Integrating Plant-Derived Bioactives with Chemotherapy through Traditional Knowledge and Modern AdvancesView all 22 articles
Preclinical research and potential clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine in cancer treatment: take Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita as an example
Provisionally accepted
- 1Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
- 2Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou, China
- 3Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Background: Cancer is a complex and debilitating physical health disease that is important for social and individual health. Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita are two herbs that are traditionally used in folk medicine to treat various diseases, and they also play a role in immunizing and alleviating cancer. Purpose: This review aims to evaluate the anti-tumor potential of Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita by summarizing the active components and their known effects on tumor-related pathways, further illustrating the anti-tumor potential of traditional Chinese medicine. This study aims to explore the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicines on different types of tumors. Methods: A comprehensive summary of the literature has been compiled, gathering information on the phytochemical characteristics, anti-tumor mechanisms, and the current status of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine relating to Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita. It demonstrates the previously established links between Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita and their anti-tumor properties. Results: The combined use of Astragalus and Dioscorea opposita enhances the immune regulatory effect through synergistic action, thereby improving the overall immune status of the body. Conclusions: This review provides a reference for experimental research in the treatment of tumors.
Keywords: Astragalus membranaceus, Dioscorea opposita, therapeutic pair, Cancer, immune microenvironment
Received: 09 Jul 2025; Accepted: 28 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Jia, Qi, Wang, Zhang, Wu and Zhang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhiqiang Zhang, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.