Plant extracts for chemotherapy: Nursing pharmacology

Plant extracts used for chemotherapy are medications obtained from plants that can be used to treat various types of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma, as well as rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Wilms’ tumor.

These medications can be broadly divided into vinca alkaloids, which includes vinblastine, vincristine, and vinorelbine; taxanes, which include docetaxel and paclitaxel; podophyllotoxins, such as etoposide and teniposide; as well as retinoids like bexarotene; and angiogenesis inhibitors like thalidomide.

All of these medications can be administered intravenously, and etoposide can be taken orally too. Once administered, these medications stop the replication of the rapidly dividing cancer cells, and ultimately cause their death.

Unfortunately, plant extracts also act on healthy rapidly dividing cells, including those in the skin, bone marrow, and gastrointestinal tract. As a result, these medications can often cause several side effects, such as alopecia, skin rash, and photosensitivity, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and even gastrointestinal bleeding.

Additionally, some clients may experience vesication, phlebitis, and there’s a boxed warning for extravasation, which can cause tissue necrosis.