Abstract

Context: The pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries are seeking structurally and pharmacologically novel anticancer molecules, as well as onco-protective nutraceuticals. One approach to achieving this goal is to study traditional pharmacopoeias, particularly those from regions where cancers are less common. Certain ethnic groups in Sabah (East Malaysia) appear to have a low incidence of cancer, and the study of their pharmacopeia could lead to the discovery of original anticancer molecules or nutraceuticals. Objectives: This review presents a selection of 64 plants used for medicinal food in Sabah their potential for clinical uses. Methods: The data for this focused narrative review were gathered from Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, PubMed, the Internet Archive, and Google books. For each plant the search string included the binomial denomination and the words “cytotoxic” or “tumors.” of the binomial denomination of each plant and “cytotoxic” and “tumors” was employed. Each result was examined and articles that did not contain information relevant to the topic or coming from non-peer-reviewed journals were excluded. Results: Eight plant species, of which Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.) Hook., Pycnarrhena tumefacta Miers, Myrmecodia platytyrea Becc., and Mangifera pajang Kosterm, demonstrate activities in vitro and in vivo, which call for further research. Others constitute a source of cytotoxic natural products that warrant further investigation. Conclusion: There is currently a need to find oncopreventive nutraceuticals as well as original natural products for developing anticancer drugs. Such products could potentially be found among the medicinal and edible plants of Sabah. Further studies are needed.