Prevention of oral cancer by natural products

Abstract

Oral cancer has a tendency to be detected at late stage which is detrimental to the patients because of its high mortality and morbidity rates. Early detection of oral cancer is important to reduce the incidence of mortality. The use of natural products which have a rich source of anticancer agents helps to reverse, suppress, or prevent carcinogenic progression. Chemopreventive agents play a crucial role in reversal, suppression, and prevention of carcinogenesis of premalignant or malignant cells by modulating cell proliferation or differentiation. This article review describes the most important chemopreventive agents taking place in the prevention of premalignant lesions to develop to oral cancer. By including cancer fighting foods in the daily diet like leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes, carrots, soya, seaweed, drumsticks, tomatoes, grapes, avocado, grapefruit, papaya, lemon, oranges, and green tea, oral cancer can be prevented. Natural therapies may be a good substitute in the prevention of premalignant lesion to develop to invasive cancer by using Chemotherapeutic agents.