Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum): Source of epipodophyllotoxin used to make etoposide, which is used against small-cell lung and testicular cancer as well as lymphomas and leukemia.  Also a source of teniposide, which is used to fight cancers such as brain tumors in adults and neuroblastoma in children. 

Cone shells are marine snails and are found in reef environments throughout the world. They prey upon other marine organisms, immobilizing them with unique venoms. Upon investigation it was found that the toxins in cone shell venoms possess pharmacological qualities that make them valuable tools in medical research and have great potential for relieving pain. One such product is Ziconontide marketed as Prialt®.

True Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria): The leaflets and branches of the indigo plant yield an exquisite blue dye; people around the globe have used it to color textiles and clothing for centuries. In the traditional medicine of India and China, indigo was used in the treatment of conditions we would now call epilepsy, bronchitis, liver disease, and psychiatric illness.  Based on its traditional use for liver problems, researchers have investigated whether indigo might protect the liver against chemically induced injury. Animal studies do suggest that extracts of the indigo species Indigofera tinctoria protect the liver from damage by toxic chemicals. A chemical compound isolated from indigo, indirubin, is being used in China for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, and various synthetic derivatives are in preclinical studies in Europe and the US.

Rosy Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) was once native only to the tropical forests of Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, found off the east coast of Africa, but is now ubiquitous as a beautiful ornamental plant commonly known as Vinca. Rosy periwinkle is a source of vincristine for use against childhood leukemia and vinblastine for use against Hodgkin’s disease.  It’s also used against bladder and testicular cancer.

This species is currently being researched because of the presence of the chemical thalicarpine. It has been used successfully with rats in controlling cancer; the research continues with humans. The seeds are the best source of thalicarpine. Research is ongoing in Heidelburg, Germany, on its effects on ovarian cancer cells. Other research shows that thaliblastine, an efflux-blocking drug, might have great potential for pre-clinical development for overcoming multidrug resistance in human malignancies, including leukemia.

Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum): Indicine N-oxide derived from Heliotropium indicum, a  widely used indigenous drug in Ayurvedic medicine, has been found to have an antitumor activity and a chemical constituent, indicine N-oxide, has been used in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for leukemia and solid tumors.

The Phyllanthus genus contains over 600 species of shrubs, trees, and annual or biennial herbs distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions in central and southern India, China, the Philippines, Cuba, Nigeria, and Guam. Long used in folk medicine to cure a multitude of urinary problems, all parts of the plant are used medicinally. Since its identification, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been found to be associated with cirrhosis, chronic liver disease and primary liver cancer as well as acute serum hepatitis. More than 200 million people worldwide are estimated to be carriers. A series of studies has shown that persistent HBV infection is associated with a greatly elevated risk of developing liver cancer. The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Research Group in Copenhagen has stated that treatment with Phyllanthus herb had a positive effect on clearance of serum HBsAg" comparable to interferon and was better than nonspecific treatment or other herbal medicines for HBV and liver enzyme normalization.

Rosy Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) was once native only to the tropical forests of Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, found off the east coast of Africa, but is now ubiquitous as a beautiful ornamental plant commonly known as Vinca. Rosy periwinkle is a source of vincristine for use against childhood leukemia and vinblastine for use against Hodgkin’s disease.  It’s also used against bladder and testicular cancer.

Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum): Indicine N-oxide derived from Heliotropium indicum, a  widely used indigenous drug in Ayurvedic medicine, has been found to have an antitumor activity and a chemical constituent, indicine N-oxide, has been used in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for leukemia and solid tumors.

Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum): Indicine N-oxide derived from Heliotropium indicum, a  widely used indigenous drug in Ayurvedic medicine, has been found to have an antitumor activity and a chemical constituent, indicine N-oxide, has been used in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for leukemia and solid tumors.

Rosy Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) was once native only to the tropical forests of Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, found off the east coast of Africa, but is now ubiquitous as a beautiful ornamental plant commonly known as Vinca. Rosy periwinkle is a source of vincristine for use against childhood leukemia and vinblastine for use against Hodgkin’s disease.  It’s also used against bladder and testicular cancer.

Heliotrope (Heliotropium indicum): Indicine N-oxide derived from Heliotropium indicum, a  widely used indigenous drug in Ayurvedic medicine, has been found to have an antitumor activity and a chemical constituent, indicine N-oxide, has been used in clinical trials as a chemotherapeutic agent for leukemia and solid tumors.