In vitro and in vivo Methods used for the Evaluation of Anticancer Secondary Metabolites

Cancer is a large group of diseases that affect the human body at all ages and causes death worldwide. Important progresses have been made in early diagnosis, prevention measures and treatment. Widespread use of secondary metabolites derived from plants has been made for the production of various effective medicines. Various natural bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants are used as anticancer mediators to remediate cancer syndrome, but they have toxicity and side effects, and hence there is a need to explore more plant-derived cytotoxic chemical agents. Consequently, an effort has been made to evaluate various in vitro and in vivo methods that are used for assessing the efficiency of the anticancer efficacy of natural bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants. Anticancer secondary metabolites derived from plants are efficient candidates for in vivo and in vitro anticancer activity. This chapter provides detailed information on different plant explants and extracts and various methods used to evaluate anticancer activity.