Journal of Drug Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, April-June 2017;2(2):74-90 Manohar S Gundeti et al 64 JDRAS 10.5005/jp-journals-10059-0009 Ayurveda and Plant-based Interventions for Cancer Management: A Systematic Review 1 Manohar S Gundeti, 2 Narayanam Srikanth, 3 Amrish Dedge, 4 Shruti Khanduri, 5 Parth Dave, 6 Ashish Kumar Tripathi 7 Thrigulla Sakethram, 8 R Govind Reddy ABSTRACT Introduction: A resurgence of interest in Ayurveda, other traditional systems of medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has resulted from the preference of many consumers for products of natural origin. The poten- tial beneits of plant-based medicines could lie in their high acceptance by patients, and ef icacy and safety. The most prevalent users of traditional medicine are individuals who have refractory conditions and nonlife-threatening conditions that may be chronic viz. neurological disorders, arthritis, etc. The second-largest group of users is those struggling with chronic, potentially life-threatening diseases, such as cancer and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunode- iciency syndrome, etc. Both groups turn to Ayurveda and traditional system of medicine for a variety of reasons, such as management as the main treatment option and improved immune functioning, overall functioning, and quality-of-life (QoL) by coping with side effects from conventional therapies, and to relieve symptoms related to their illness. The upsurge in use of traditional system among cancer patients warrants evidence of safety and effectiveness for these interventions as concomitant to conventional cancer therapy. Objective: This manuscript aims at a systematic review of published data on the effectiveness of Ayurveda/ herbal inter- ventions as stand-alone or concomitant in the management of cancer. Materials and methods: Literature search for clinical studies with speci ic terms was carried using search engines viz. Google scholar, PubMed, Ayush Research Portal, etc. and print journals, reports from May 2017 to June 2017. Results: Various randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that ginger, honey, turmeric, and ashwagandha are effective as add-on in chemotherapy-induced nausea and Review ARticle 1,3,4,5,7 Research Oficer (Ayurveda), 2 Deputy Director General 6 Senior Research Fellow (Botany), 8 Research Oficer-In-Charge 1,3,5,8 Raja Ramdeo Anandilal Podar, Central Ayurveda Research Institute for Cancer, Worli, Mumbai, India 2,4,6 Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India 7 National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana India Corresponding Author: Shruti Khanduri, Research Oficer (Ayurveda), Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, India Phone: +919213121355, e-mail: drshruti.ayurveda@gmail.com vomiting (CINV), radiation mucositis, and fatigue. Moreover, single case reports and case–control studies also reported with positive outcomes for Ayurveda as stand-alone and add-ons to conventional treatment. Conclusion: Evidence for effectiveness of Ayurveda as add-on concomitant to conventional cancer treatment is substantial in comparison with Ayurveda as stand-alone, and this may help to develop integrative Ayurveda oncology treatment protocols. Keywords: Ayurveda, Cancer, Integrative, Oncology, Plant. How to cite this article: Gundeti MS, Srikanth N, Dedge A, Khanduri S, Dave P, Tripathi AK, Sakethram T, Reddy RG. Ayurveda and Plant-based Interventions for Cancer Man- agement: A Systematic Review. J Drug Res Ayurvedic Sci 2017;2(2):64-80. Source of support: Nil Conlict of interest: None INTRODUCTION Cancer is the most dreaded disease of the 21st century, and is spreading further with continuance and increasing incidence. Multidisciplinary scientific investigations are making best efforts to combat this disease, but the cure for the disease is still elusive. Management of cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and biological therapy resulting in cure of >50% of patients diagnosed with cancer. The modern approach to the treatment of cancer has reached a plateau. Owing to the importance/benefits of traditional medicine, the World Health Organization (WHO) has included integrative oncology as one of the primary objectives of treatment of cancer besides cure, prevention of recurrence, prolon- gation of life, rehabilitation, and improvement of QoL. About 50% of the world’s cancer burden is carried by developing countries that ironically have access to only 5% of the resources available to fight the disease. In the developing world, and arguably the developed world, CAM may become an important component of modern oncology, if integrated properly into mainstream medi- cine. 1 There are many reasons why people living with cancer use traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda. Accessibility, affordability, tolerability, compromised QoL, and variable success rates are the problem areas of conventional cancer care. In most of these areas, CAM is contributing in one or other ways. According to a survey