TY - JOUR
AR - COR-2020-6-108
TI - Evidence for Edible Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Alternative Approach for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
AU - Calvin , Kai-Fai Lee
AU - George , Pak-Heng Leung
AU - Hai-Yong , Chen
AU - Hei , Wan
AU - Jing , Su
AU - Kalin Yan-Bo, ZHANG
AU - Kar-Ho , Lam
AU - Ling-Min , Tian
AU - Min-Yi , Tian
AU - Sonny , Hing-Min Tse
AU - Sydney , Chi-Wai Tang
AU - Wei , Meng
AU - Xiang , Lin
AU - Xiao-Xin , Chen
AU - Yi-Bin , Feng
AU - Zhang-Jin , Zhang
JO - Clinical Oncology and Research
PY - 2020
DA - Fri 26, Jun 2020
SN - 2613-4942
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.COR.2020.06.08
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/evidence-for-edible-chinese-herbal-medicine-as-an-alternative-approach_COR-2020-6-108 
KW - Chinese herbal medicine, colorectal cancer, functional food, diet therapy
AB - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer lethality worldwide, inflicting a heavy burden on
society. Unfortunately, the complex nature of CRC pathogenesis renders current chemotherapies and
targeted therapies unsatisfactory. Conventional medicine generally concentrates on the killing of tumor cells
by inducing cell death or activation of the immune system, which often leads to adverse effects or relapsed
chemoresistance. On the contrary, Chinese medicine theory pays attention to the patients’ whole inner
system and helps to shrink the tumor with consideration of overall body condition. Since numerous Chinese
herbal medicines (CHM) are used as food, the edible CHMs as diet resources therapy represent a promising
alternative for the treatment of CRC. Recent research has made remarkable progress toward the therapeutic
effects of edible CHM for CRC. In this review, experimental CRC models, the holistic characteristic of
edible CHM, and recent research on the efficacy and mechanisms of edible CHM as anti-CRC agents are
discussed, as well as the safety aspect of edible CHM.