Anticancer Chinese Privet plant has been studied for its medicinal properties. This shrub can grow into a small tree, reaching a height of about 2–10 m. In exceptional cases, the plant can reach a height of 25 meters. The plant is native to China but is an introduced species that thrives in many subtropical and temperate regions, including Australia, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States. It belongs to the Oleaceae family.

The tree can form dense, impenetrable stands that often outcompete native flora. The literature characterizes it as a weed and an invasive plant. The leaves are ovate to elliptical, and the flowers are white or cream, with a sickly sweet fragrance. The fruits are deep blue-black and turn red-black when ripe.

Anticancer Chinese Privet plant – evidence from Traditional Chinese Medicine

The fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (Chinese Privet) is one of the frequently used liver tonics in traditional Chinese medicine to treat liver disease, including liver cancer. A 2014 study highlighted the potential of this plant as an anticancer herb (Hu et al., 2014).

In addition, multiple studies conducted by Chinese scientists have supported the traditional use of the plant for its anticancer properties and its role in treating various ailments.

An aqueous extract of 12 Chinese herbs—Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Artemisia argyi, Commiphora myrrha, Duchesnea indica, Gleditsia sinensis, Ligustrum lucidum, Rheum palmatum, Rubia cordifolia, Salvia chinensis, Scutellaria barbata, Uncaria rhychophylla, and Vaccaria segetalis—was evaluated for its effectiveness as an anticancer formulation on eight cancer cell lines. The results indicated a great potential for these herbs in anticancer treatment (Shoemaker et al., 2005).

Chinese herbal medicine combined with chemotherapy was seen to improve quality of life and prolong survival in patients suffering from advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This herbal combination included Ligustrum lucidum (Xu et al., 2011).

Tumors are known to suppress the body’s immune system. Chinese herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum have been shown to enhance the body’s self-defense functions (Rittenhouse et al., 1991). These herbs also helped increase the survival period of breast, uterine, and liver cancer patients who were under chemotherapy (Sun, 1986).

A dietary supplement containing extracts from nine Chinese herbs, namely, Herba epimedium brevicornum, Radix morindae officinalis, Fructus rosa, Rubus chingii, Schisandra chinensis, Ligustrum lucidum, Cuscuta chinensis, Psoralea corylifolia, and Astragalus membranaceus, was found to reduce cancer cell growth and induce cell death in prostate cancer patients (Hsieh et al., 2002).

Patents for anticancer properties

A US patent (US8092841B2, assigned to Bionovo, Inc., in 2012) for a Ligustrum lucidum formulation claims it stimulates cancer cell death in breast and uterine cancer patients. Another dietary supplement containing several Chinese herbs, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids claims to enhance the immune system and maintain appetite and weight in cancer patients.

Another patent (US5770217A, assigned to ATLATL Inc.) has been made for a formulation that contains a crucifer extract of Vigna sinensis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Schisandra chinensis, Panax quinquefolius, Ligustrum lucidum, Echinacea angustifolia, Artemisia annua, Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Mallettia dielsiana, Ophiopogon japonicus, selenium, glutathione, l-cysteine, l-methionine, and excipients. This formulation is claimed to be beneficial to patients who have undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

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