The Anticancer Efficiency of Citrullus colocynthis Toward the Colorectal Cancer Therapy.
J Gastrointest Cancer 2019;
51:439-444. [PMID:
31463888 DOI:
10.1007/s12029-019-00299-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major cause of death worldwide. Chemotherapy is associated with some side effects during CRC treatment. Hence, proper employment of lower toxic and approaches exerting lowest side effects are essential. The Citrullus colocynthis (C. colocynthis) seems a potential anticancerous herbal medicine (HM) against CRC mostly via various efficient compounds.
METHODS
We performed a literature review regarding the anticancer traits of C. colocynthis against CRC. The possible active compounds, mechanisms, and combination therapies in vitro and in vivo or clinical trials have been also stated where found.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The anticancerous effects of C. colocynthis has been via a variety of pathways including apoptotic pathways (increase in caspase-3 and inhibiting STAT3 function), antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (TNF-α, nitric oxide, and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1α) traits, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and antiangiogenesis and antimetastatic effects. Future studies will be promising regarding proper application of C. colocynthis compounds following their extraction.
Collapse