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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2014; 20(41): 15275-15288
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15275
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15275
Differential control of growth, apoptotic activity and gene expression in human colon cancer cells by extracts derived from medicinal herbs, Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale and their combination
Ayman I Elkady, Osama A Abu-Zinadah, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Ayman I Elkady, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Rania Abd El Hamid Hussein, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Rania Abd El Hamid Hussein, Gamal Abd El Nasser Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
Author contributions: Elkady AI designed and performed the research; Abu-Zinadah OA contributed analytic tools; Elkady AI and Hussein RAEH analyzed the data; and Elkady AI and Hussein RAEH wrote the paper.
Supported by Funding from the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Abdulaziz University, No. 1431/130/159
Correspondence to: Dr. Osama A Abu-Zinadah, Professor of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. oaboznada@kau.edu.sa
Telephone: +966-2-692662 Fax: +966-2-6952290
Received: March 3, 2014
Revised: June 29, 2014
Accepted: July 11, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Revised: June 29, 2014
Accepted: July 11, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Many medicinal plants represent a cornerstone for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). Nonetheless, monotherapy with these agents has been unsatisfactory; therefore attention has turned towards therapies combining these plant-based extracts. In this study, we found that a combination of crude alkaloid and flavonoid extracts prepared from the medicinal herbs Rhazya stricta and Zingiber officinale, respectively, acted synergistically to suppress proliferation, induce apoptosis and modulate expression levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins in CRC cells. These results provide a foundation and rationale for exploiting these extracts for the prevention of CRC.