“Cancer” is the term we give to a large group of diseases that vary in type and location, but have one thing in common: abnormal cells that get out of control. It continues to multiply out of control and the result of this accumulation of abnormal cells is a mass of cells termed “cancer”. The plant kingdom produces natural secondary metabolites which are being studiedfor its anti-cancer activities leading to the development of new clinical drugs. Vinca alkaloids, texans, podophyllotoxin and camptothecins have been used clinically as plant-derived anticancer agents. With the success of these compounds, these compounds have become staple anti-cancer drugs, new technologies are emerging to advance the field. Emerging technologies include nanoparticles for nanomedicines, which aim to enhance the anticancer activities of plant-derived drugs by controlling the release of the compound and exploring new delivery methods1.The purpose of this brief review is to compile the current literature on some herbal medicines and focus on their beneficial roles and drug targets in cancer therapy and chemoprevention. Herbal medicines . This review addresses the demand for naturally derived medicinal plant compounds and their properties that make them targets for potential cancer treatments