Master’s Thesis at the University of Babylon on Colorectal Cancer
The College of Medicine, University of Babylon – Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology – discussed the master’s thesis of Duha Saleh Jaber entitled:
“The Potential Anticancer, Antioxidant, and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Capparis Spinosa Fruit Extract on Colon Cancer Cell Line SW480”
The thesis was supervised by Asst. Prof. Riyadh Hashim Al-Mousawi and Prof. Qaisar Neama Madhloom.
The defense session was attended by the Dean of the College, Prof. Mohannad Abbass Al-Shalah, along with several faculty members, researchers, academics, and postgraduate students.
During her defense, the researcher explained that colorectal cancer is a major global health concern due to its high incidence and mortality rates, especially in advanced stages. It usually arises from benign polyps that may progress to malignant tumors over time. Multiple risk factors contribute to its development, including genetic predisposition, a high-fat/low-fiber diet, and a sedentary lifestyle.
Early diagnosis through routine screening methods such as colonoscopy is essential for reducing mortality by enabling timely and effective treatment. Although standard chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy, their use is often limited by toxicity and drug resistance. Consequently, there has been growing interest in recent years in exploring natural compounds with anticancer and immunomodulatory properties.
Capparis spinosa, commonly known as caper and belonging to the Capparaceae family, is a traditional medicinal herb rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and glucosinolates. These compounds have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities in several experimental studies.
This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Capparis spinosa in the colorectal cancer cell line SW480.
In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that Capparis spinosa exhibits antitumor activity against the SW480 cell line. Its antitumor mechanism may involve reducing oxidative damage and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, Capparis spinosa possesses significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by modulating the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.
Therefore, this plant could represent a promising source of bioactive natural compounds for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and may be considered an ideal natural candidate for cancer therapy