Aromatic and medicinal plants against cancer in Morocco: Challenges and perspectives

Cancer is one of the challenging health issues in the world. Both laboratory experimental studies and clinical trials with novel molecules are required for a better understanding of cancer and for better results to cure patients. Although multiple studies report positive results on the capacity of many aromatic and medicinal plants to have cytotoxic and anti-proliferative properties in laboratory models of cancer, many countries still have difficulties carrying out clinical trials on their local aromatic and medicinal plants, because of the challenging regulatory procedures on using natural products or raw material from plant extracts. Limited and hazardous consumption of aromatic and medicinal plants by cancer patients may aggravate their health conditions.