Polyherbal decoction comprised of Nigella sativa seeds, Hemidesmus indicus roots, and Smilax glabra rhizome in equal proportions has traditionally been used by a particular family of Ayurvedic physician in Sri Lanka to treat cancer patients . Recent studies have demonstrated that the above decoction can provide significant protection against chemically induced hepatocarcinogenic changes in rats  without producing any significant toxic effects and exert cytotoxicity in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells . Protection against oxidative damage , favourable immune modulation , and expression and suppression of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic genes  are some of the mechanisms which mediate anticancer activity of the decoction. It was hypothesized that the claimed antioxidant activity of the decoction may play a dual role: (a) protecting healthy cells against the damage mediated by either chemotherapy or radiotherapy and (b) restricting the tumour progression by resisting mutation in cancer management.