Ethnopharmacological insights into ayurvedic and siddha medicine in cancer: Phytochemicals, bhasma nanomedicine, and integrative mechanisms.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cancer is an enormous worldwide health burden; traditional treatments are often limited by systemic toxicities, drug resistance and/or patient-to-patient differences, stressing the importance of holistic personalized treatment approaches. Ayurveda and Siddha are the indigenous systems of medicine in India; both provide an analytical and holistic approach with patient-oriented management for treating various diseases including cancer. Ayurveda, dating back over 5000 years, is based on the principle of restoring the body's natural healing systems, immunity and good health through tailored protocols, regulate diet intake and use of botanical remedies. OBJECTIVES: The review aims to evaluate the emerging evidence of Traditional Indian Medicine approaches in cancer care with respect to established mechanisms of action of Indian botanicals, Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Curcuma longa (Curcumin), examine Bhasma effects that represent herbo-mineral nanomedicines, and discuss the potential use of Ayurveda and Rasayana therapy to decrease treatment toxicity and improve overall survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review integrates available evidence related to the pharmacological mechanisms, therapeutic formulations, and clinical implications of traditional Indian medical systems in cancer management. RESULTS: Traditional Indian medicinal approaches possess strong anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and chemoprotective potential. However, there remain considerable hiccups with respect to the lack of larger controlled trials in humans, the standardisation of their complex formulations, and rigorous scientific validation necessary to integrate ancient wisdom with modern integrative oncology. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides an integrated perspective on the pharmacological mechanisms, therapeutic formulations, and clinical implications of traditional Indian medical systems, highlighting their potential role in integrative oncology.