POTENTIAL OF MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS AND CORN SILK AS ADJUNCT PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER. A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract: Uterine cancer is one of the most significant gynecologic oncological problems, the relevance of which is increasing against the backdrop of an aging population, obesity, metabolic disorders, and molecular heterogeneity of tumors. This literature review evaluates the potential of sweet clover, or Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., and corn silk, known in pharmacognosy as Stigma maydis of the plant Zea mays L., as adjuvant phytotherapeutic agents for uterine cancer. The analysis shows that coumarins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids of sweet clover, as well as polyphenols, flavonoids, minerals, and polysaccharide fractions of corn silk have the potential to influence inflammation, oxidative stress, microcirculation, and metabolic disorders. However, the available data are insufficient to consider these plants as independent anticancer treatments. Their possible use should be considered only as a scientifically substantiated direction of maintenance therapy under the supervision of an oncologist and taking into account the risk of drug interactions.