Cancer development consists of a multitude of steps that occur progressively starting with initial driver mutation(s), to tumorigenesis, and ultimately metastasis. However, relatively little is known about the key epigenetic events that lead to tumour progression and metastasis. On the other hand, it is widely known that cancer cells acquire instruments to circumvent programmed cell death. Epidemiological studies suggest that medicinal plants can act as epigenetic compounds promoting several strategies to override apoptosis, including the induction of programmed cell death, the arrest of cell proliferation, or both. Interestingly, around half of current pharmaceutical drugs have been derived, directly or indirectly, from natural sources. Many species have been recognized to have medicinal properties and beneficial impact on health, such as, antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities, anti-mutagenic effects and anti-carcinogenic potential. This review thoroughly discusses about the chemical composition and biochemical properties of four medicinal and Mediterranean plants such as Aloe vera, Salvia officinalis L. (Sage), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary) and Urtica dioica (Nettle), and compares the potential of these plants to modify proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis in colorectal cancer.

癌症的发展包括许多步骤，这些步骤从最初的驱动程序突变开始逐步发展到肿瘤发生，最终转移。然而，对于导致肿瘤进展和转移的关键表观遗传事件知之甚少。另一方面，众所周知，癌细胞获得了规避程序性细胞死亡的工具。流行病学研究表明，药用植物可以作为表观遗传化合物，促进多种策略来克服细胞凋亡，包括诱导程序性细胞死亡，阻止细胞增殖或两者兼而有之。有趣的是，目前约有一半的药物直接或间接地来自天然来源。人们已经认识到许多物种具有药用特性并对健康产生有益影响，例如，抗氧化或抗炎活性，抗诱变作用和抗癌潜力。这篇综述彻底讨论了四种药用和地中海植物的化学成分和生化特性，例如芦荟，鼠尾草（鼠尾草），迷迭香（迷迭香）和荨麻（荨麻），并比较了这些植物修饰结直肠癌的增殖，迁移，血管生成和细胞凋亡的潜力。