Plant source Extract Bioactive compound Mode of action In vivo Dose Cell line/ Model References
Alstonia scholaris
Fruit extract
Scholarisine Q(1) and R(2)
Induction of apoptosis
——
Glioma stem cell lines
Wang et al., 2018
Anisomeles indica
——
Ovatodiolide (Ova)
Induction of apoptosis Modulation of EMT process Downregulation of CD44, CD133, Sox2, and Oct-4 Dysregulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway
——
Glioblastoma cell line
Su et al., 2019
Induction of apoptosis Downregulation of Sox-2 and Oct-4 Increase of E-cadherin Dysregulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway
——
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line
Liu et al., 2019
Induction of apoptosis Downregulation of CD133, Klf4, Oct4, Nanog and JARID1B Dysregulation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway
3.6 mg/kg
Oral CSCs and xenograft mouse models
Lin et al., 2018
Cruciferous vegetables (Broccoli, watercress, cabbage)
——
Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)
Downregulation of Oct4, Nanog, and Sox-2
20 mg/kg
Colon cancer cells and mouse xenograft models
Yun et al., 2017
Promotion of oxidative stress Suppression of Sp1 transcription factor
10 µM
Cervical CSCs and xenotransplanted NOD-SCID mouse model
Upadhyaya et al., 2019
Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz
Rhizome extract
Atractylenolide I (ATL-1)
Downregulation of the phosphorylation of proteins related to the AKT/mTOR pathway Alteration of apoptosis, glucose metabolism, and stem-like behaviour
25 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg
Colon cancer cell lines and mouse xenograft model
Wang et al., 2020
Fructus viticis (TCM)
——
Flavonoids
Decrease the phosphorylation level of Akt Downregulation of CD133, CD44 and ALDH1, Bmi1, Nanog and OCT4, Twist1 and Snail1
——
Lung CSCs
Cao et al., 2016
Pigeon pea
——
Cajaninstilbene acid derivatives
Cytotoxic (pathway not deduced)
——
Breast cancer cell line
Seo et al., 2015
Berberis libanotica Ehrenb
Root extract
G0-G1 arrest Inhibition of cellular migration and sphere formation
——
Prostate CSCs
El-Merahbi et al., 2014
Berberis, Arcangelisia, Hydrastis
——
Berberine
G0/G1 cell cycle arrest Cancer stemness inhibition (attenuation of CD133, β-catenin, n-myc, sox2, notch2 and nestin) EMT reversal by downregulation of PI3/Akt and Ras-Raf-ERK signaling.
——
Neuroblastoma cells
Naveen et al., 2016
Dendrobium venustum
Stem extract
Lusianthridin
Downregulation of Src-STAT3-c-Myc pathways Pro-survival suppression and pro-apoptotic induction Abolishment of stemness (decrease in CD133, ABCG2, and ALDH1A1)
——
Lung CSCs
Bhummaphan et al., 2019
Curcuma longa (Turmeric)
——
Curcumin
Downregulation of expression of Vimentin, Fibronectin, β-catenin, and upregulation of E-cadherin Decreased expression of Sox-2, Nanog and Oct-4
——
Breast CSCs
Hu et al., 2019
Curcumin
Reduction in the expression of ABC transporters ABCG2 and ABCC1
——
Breast CSCs
Zhou et al., 2015
Curcumin
Induction of apoptosis Dysregulation of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway
——
Papillary thyroid CSCs
Khan et al., 2020
Curcumin
Induction of apoptosis
5 mg/kg
Glioblastoma stem cells and mouse models
Wang et al., 2017
Walsura pinnata Hassk
Bark extract
Betulonic acid (BA)
Induction of intrinsic apoptosis
18, 36 or 54 μM
Leukaemia stem cells and xeno-transplanted zebrafish Model
Leong et al., 2017
Costus speciosus
Rhizome extract
—— Induction of apoptosis G0/G1 and G2/M arrest
——
Prostate cancer cells
Elkady, 2019
Viola odorata
Hydro-alcoholic extract of aerial part
—— Induction of apoptosis
——
Breast CSCs
Yousefnia et al., 2020
Polygonum cuspidatum
Root extract
2-Ethoxystypandrone
Induction of apoptosis Inhibition of STAT3 signaling
——
Hepatocellular CSCs
Li et al., 2019
Cinnammum cassia (Cinnamon)
——
Cinnamic acid
Downregulation of CSC-associated markers (OCT4, NANOG, ABCB1, and ALDH1A) and the proportion of CSCs (SP cells, CD44, and CD133 positive cells)
——
Colon cancer cell line
Soltanian et al., 2018
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
——
Glabridin
Epigenetic regulation ofmiR-148a/SMAD2 signaling
20 mg/kg
Breast cancer cell lines and mouse xenograft models
Jiang et al., 2016
Morus australis
——
Morusin
Induction of apoptosis Attenuation of NF-κB activity
——
Cervical CSCs
Wang et al., 2013
Lithospermum erythrorhizon
——
Shikonin
Involvement of JNK/c-Jun pathway
2 mg/kg
Glioblastoma stem cells and xenografted mice
Liu et al., 2015
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
——
Carnosol
Induction of apoptosis via p53 functional reactivation Modulation of EMT
——
Glioblastoma CSCs
Giacomelli et al., 2017
Angelica Sinensis (TCM)
——
N-butylidenephthalide (BP)
Modulation of EMT-genes Induction of intrinsic apoptosis
100 and 200 mg/kg
Bladder cancer cells and NOD-SCID mouse xenografts
Chiu et al., 2017
Bushenshugan (TCM)
——
—— Induction of apoptosis Cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase EMT inhibition through PI3K/AKT/ NF-κB pathway
——
Lung cancer cells
Fan et al., 2018
PienTze Huang (TCM)
——
—— Inhibition of ABCB1 and ABCG2
——
Colorectal CSCs
Wei et al., 2014
Herbal mixture H3
Ethanol extract of herbal mixture (Meliae fructus, Cinnamon bark and Sparganium rhizome) —— G0/G1 arrest Induction of apoptosis Suppression of ABCG2, POU5F1 and SOX2
200 mg/kg
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line and nude mice xenografts
Pak et al., 2016
Allium sativum (Garlic)
——
Allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate)
Increased expression of cyclin D1
——
Melanoma cells
Jobani et al., 2018