Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases responsible for millions of
deaths every year. In the present study, 12 medicinal plants from Jammu
region, viz., Alstonia scholaris (devil tree), Azadirachta indica
(neem), Calotropis gigantea (milk weed), Emblica officinalis (amla),
Mentha citrata (bergamot mint), Mentha piperita (piper mint), Mentha
viridis (pudina), Murraya koengii (kari pata), Musa paradisiaca
(banana), Olea europaea (olive), Punica garanatum (pomegranate) and
Trachyspermum ammi (ajwain) were evaluated against five human cancer
cell lines from four different origins, viz., A-549 (lung), HCT-116
(colon), MCF-7 (breast), PC-3 (prostate) and T-47D (breast). 7 medicinal
plants showed in vitro cytotoxic effect against one or the other human
cancer cell line with the remarkable results produced by Calotropis
gigantea (73-78% growth inhibition at 10 μg/ml against lung, colon and
prostate cancer cells).To conclude, the plant can provide a great
service and promise to cancer patients.