Plants Producing Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins in Traditional Medicine

The document reviews the historical and contemporary use of plants containing ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) in traditional medicine across various cultures. It provides a comprehensive list of these plants, their uses, and geographic distribution, tracing their application from ancient civilizations to modern times. The review suggests that while some medicinal effects of these plants may be due to other components, the presence of RIPs contributes to their therapeutic potential, particularly in cancer therapy. The document also notes the importance of scientific validation for the medicinal properties of these plants, with the potential for developing targeted cancer treatments using purified RIPs. However, the document does not include specific study numbers as it is a review of traditional uses rather than a clinical study.