Targeting Colon Cancer with Dietary Bioactive Agents

Abstract

Background Increased consumption of refined carbohydrates, sugars, and saturated fats is accompanied by low intake of fruits and vegetables; this dietary pattern is involved in the etiology of different types of cancers, the global cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western countries and gulf region. Objective: Primary prevention of colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer, CRC, by dietary bioactive agents extracted from natural products. Results Our research group at Sultan Qaboos University has successfully identified phytonutrients- rich dietary bioactive agents [Pomegaranate (Punica granatum) Peel Extract, Mushroom (Agaricus bisporous) Extract, and Nabag (Zizyphus spina-christi) Extract], which provide antioxidant protective effect against azoxymethane-induced oxidative stress and CRC in an in-vivo experimental study model. Our results have shown a net subjective improvement in the CRC pathogenesis as evident by a marked decrease in tumor growth, increase in intra cellular glutathione level, and antioxidant enzymes-improved activities. Conclusion It appears that the high intake of plant-based foods might be adopted as a dietary-based intervention approach for the primary prevention of oxidative-stress mediated cancers, including CRC. The mechanism was thought to be by abrogating oxidative stress in carcinogenic cells. Further human clinical trials are planned to be conducted to assess the therapeutic effect of dietary bioactive agents against oxidative stress-mediated cancers.