Phytotherapy: The promising complementary strategy to cope with addiction and oral cancer

Title : Phytotherapy: The promising complementary strategy to cope with addiction and oral cancer

Abstract:

According to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020, Oral Cancer (OC), the  subgroup of head and neck cancer, is one of the most common malignancies globally. The Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and progressed  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of all oral cancers and 38% of head and neck tumors. As per WHO’s  report, addiction of  tobacco  and alcohol plays leading role in around 90% of OC cases. The other etiological risk factors of OC are Human Papillomavirus (HPV-16 and HPV-18 ) classified by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ,Betel quid chewing, Nutritional deficiencies, Immune conditions , Environmental pollutants, Occupational exposures ,Specific microorganisms , Genetic diseases and disorders etc. In spite of the existing therapies and clinical interventional strategies, mortality rate of OC is still increasing because of numerous shortcomings such as drug resistance, toxic effects, metastasis, recurrence complications etc. In this regard, the high incidence of oral cancer combined with excessive treatment cost underscores the need for natural, novel ,safe and cost effective Anti-addictive and Anticancer agents with  therapeutic potential. It is clinically proved that  Phytochemicals shows promising Anti-addictive and Anticancer ability .They could play vital role in reducing addiction / substance abuse by reduction of cravings for addictive substances. Due to their stress calming ,anxiolytic, neuro protective, anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties ,they  could exhibit  capacity to  manage the withdrawal symptom like anxiety, stress, depression and mental health problem along with detoxification etc. These bioactive compounds shows  promising anticancer ability by regulating epigenetics/epigenomics , targeting cancer stem cells , inhibiting cancer metastasis , improving human immunity,inhibiting cancer cell cycle progression , inhibiting cell signal transduction , promoting cancer cell apoptosis , and eventually achieving the effect of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis etc.These antioxidant  compounds shows  reduction of oral lesion size, cell growth, pain score, and development of new lesions etc. In this context such phytochemical based natural, safe and affordable phytotherapy could be efficiently used  as a complementary therapy to cope with addiction as well as prevention and management of Oral Cancer.

Keywords: Bioactive Phytochemicals, Phytotherapy, Addiction, Oral Cancer, Mental health

Audience Take Away Notes:

• This presentation will help to create awareness among the  audience about the risk of addiction and resulted oral cancer. Besides, they could learn about the Phytochemical based Phytotherapy and its importance in addiction prevention and oral cancer risk reduction .Thereby ,they could include  different phytochemical rich  well balanced diet and thereby phytochemical based Phytotherapy to reduce the risk of both addiction and resulted oral cancer along with improvement of their overall health
• Significance of Phytotherapy will be recognized by various professionals and stakeholders.Based on  patient's overall health and well-being,  healthcare professional such as conventional medical doctor, naturopathic doctor, herbalist, counselors, dietitians and nutritionists etc. could  include or  recommend the  Phytotherapy as complementary therapy for getting better results in the existing  treatments and various therapies meant for addiction and oral cancer management
• Physicians can personalize the  treatment plans by incorporating specific phytochemical based herbal remedies ,addressing  patient's unique risk factors, such as stress, anxiety, or a family history of addiction or cancer. They could recommend phytotherapy to mitigate side effects of conventional treatments or reduce the reliance on pharmaceuticals
• Researchers could  develop the targeted therapies by identifying the specific  bioactive phytochemicals  exhibiting  anti-addictive or anti-cancer properties. They could discover and standardize new herbal formulations and could contribute for increasing the precision and consistency of phytotherapy
• Pharmacists can help patients to understand potential interactions between phytochemical based phytotherapy  and prescription medications, minimizing the risk of adverse effects Moreover, they can educate patients on the proper use of herbal remedies, dosages, and potential side effects, promoting safe and effective phytotherapy
• Herbal product manufacturers could adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and they could develop the  standardized herbal products with consistent levels of active compounds, making it easier for healthcare professionals to prescribe phytotherapy with confidence
• Manufacturers could follow the Regulatory Compliance and could  provide assurance to physicians, pharmacists, and patients that the herbal remedies are safe and effective
• Yes, Educators and Researchers from various faculties can benefit from the study of phytotherapy in several ways. Interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing among these faculties can help to expand research on the effectiveness of phytotherapy in addiction prevention and oral cancer risk reduction. Furthermore, integrating phytotherapy into educational programs across various disciplines can prepare future healthcare professionals to consider Phytotherapy  as part of holistic patient care.
• By incorporating the  essentials inspired by phytotherapy in healthcare facility design and society, the aforesaid. health professionals- designers can create environments that could promote health, well-being, and awareness of addiction and oral cancer risks. Phytotherapy could simplify the process of integrating health-focused design elements while making existing therapies more efficient to overcome such critical health issues. Phytotherapy, can offer practical solutions for avoiding addiction and oral cancer in a way that simplifies or makes above mention designer's job more efficient, particularly in the context of healthcare remedies along with designing required   healthcare facilities They could practically apply phytotherapy for  addressing the health concerns along with efficient solution
• Application of phytotherapy to avoid addiction and oral cancer can improve the accuracy of a design and provide new information to assist in addressing design problems by providing data-driven and evidence-based solutions. It offers new information about the therapeutic properties of unexplored plants, which can be harnessed to create precise and effective design elements. Additionally, phytotherapy can support personalized design solutions and sustainable practices, contributing to better outcomes in addiction prevention and oral cancer risk reduction through thoughtful and accurate design
• The application of phytotherapy, to avoid addiction and reduce the risk of oral cancer offers a range of potential benefits beyond just addressing these specific health concerns. .Phytotherapy takes a holistic approach to health, considering the overall well-being of an individual. It promotes natural remedies and healthy lifestyle choices.Phytotherapy can complement conventional medical treatments, enhancing the effectiveness of existing treatments or reducing their side effects.

1. Cultural and Traditional Practices: Many herbal remedies have roots in cultural and traditional practices, preserving and celebrating cultural diversity and heritage.
2. Personalization: Phytotherapy  can be tailored to an individual's specific needs and health profile, providing personalized healthcare solutions.
3. Stress Reduction: Certain phytochemicals can have calming and stress-reducing effects, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant  potential ,which can benefit overall mental health and well-being.
4. Improved Nutrition: Incorporating plant-based foods and herbal remedies can improve overall nutrition and contribute to a balanced diet.
5. Sustainable Practices: Many herbs and plants used in phytotherapy are grown sustainably, promoting environmentally friendly and responsible practices.
6. Community and Education: The application of phytotherapy can encourage community involvement through activities like community gardens or educational initiatives about herbal remedies and their uses.
7. Reduced Healthcare Costs: By focusing on preventive measures, phytotherapy may reduce the long-term healthcare costs associated with addiction treatment and cancer care.
8. Empowerment: The knowledge of herbal remedies can empower individuals to take an active role in their own health and well-being.
9. Potential for Research: The study of phytotherapy can lead to new discoveries and scientific advancements in the understanding of the therapeutic properties of plants.
10. Improved Overall Health: Focusing on prevention through herbal remedies and a healthy lifestyle can lead to improved overall health and well-being.

Biography:

Dr.Anita V.Handore is Founder and Director of innovation based Biotech Startup, Phytoelixir Pvt.Ltd., and Nashik.MS, INDIA. She is PhD in Microbiology and M.Phil. In Environmental Science. She is a prominent women Bio scientist having credit of two process patents in Microbiology, and Plant Biotechnology. Her next 3 filed patents are in fields of Agriculture- Biotechnology, Food Technology and Phyto-nutraceuticals. Since last decades, with her masterliness in innovative Research & Development along with special skills of translating laboratorial research into appropriate technology for sustainable livelihood, she has greatly contributed to diverse sectors. Dr.Anita has commendably & successfully shouldered managerial & administrative responsibilities and effectively working as, programme Advisory Committee member, for Research Foundations, renowned National University.She is Editorial board member and author for various International Journals and books of repute. She has been working as research guide-mentor for students of well-known Indian Universities and institutes . Over 89 research publications , presentations in reputed International and National research Journals together with invited talks on use of specific phytomolecules against different types of diseases and disorders including cancer at prestigious International forums and platforms along with 16 book chapters and books published with world leading publishers are to her credit. Sequences database of more than nine novel and rare endophytes discovered by her, submitted to NCBI GenBank is creditable. As a part of her social responsibility, she actively participates in various social activities and serve her knowledge and experience for awareness and upliftment of society.Till date, she has been honored & appreciated with more than 19 awards for her outstanding research contribution towards Biotechnology, Microbiology, Food and Nutraceutical, Ayurveda -Healthcare, Agriculture, Environment , Education and social sectors by various State level, National and International forums working in scientific and social sectors. With her profound vision Dr.Anita has started journey as an entrepreneur with the purpose to serve hidden treasure of nature & bring resilience by revitalizing living beings, using scientific and innovative power to tackle some global challenges & create value for society at large.