Project Abstract

Abstract
Colon cancer is a significant public health concern worldwide, with dietary factors playing a crucial role in its prevention and development. Hyphaene thebaica fruit (Linn) is a well-known natural product with potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of dietary inclusion of Hyphaene thebaica fruit on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups Group 1 served as the control and received a standard diet, Group 2 received a standard diet supplemented with Hyphaene thebaica fruit, Group 3 received NMU to induce colon carcinogenesis, and Group 4 received both NMU and Hyphaene thebaica fruit-supplemented diet. The rats were monitored for changes in body weight, food intake, and water consumption throughout the study period. At the end of the study, colon tissues were examined for histopathological changes, oxidative stress markers, and expression of inflammatory markers. The results showed that rats in the NMU-induced group exhibited a significant increase in colon carcinogenesis compared to the control group. However, rats in the NMU plus Hyphaene thebaica fruit group demonstrated a lower incidence of colon tumors and a decrease in tumor size compared to the NMU-induced group. Furthermore, rats in the Hyphaene thebaica fruit-supplemented group showed reduced oxidative stress markers and inflammatory marker expression in colon tissues compared to the NMU-induced group. The findings of this study suggest that dietary inclusion of Hyphaene thebaica fruit may have a preventive effect on NMU-induced colon carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. The observed reduction in tumor incidence, size, and modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers indicate the potential chemopreventive properties of Hyphaene thebaica fruit against colon cancer. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects and to explore the potential use of Hyphaene thebaica fruit as a dietary supplement for colon cancer prevention in humans.

Project Overview

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. An estimated 14.1million new cancer cases occurred in 2012 (GLOBOCAN, 2012). Lung, female breast, colorectal and stomach cancers accounted for more than 40% of all cases diagnosed worldwide (GLOBOCAN, 2012). In men, lung cancer was the most common cancer (16.7% of all new cases in men). Breast cancer was by far the most common cancer diagnosed in women (25.2% of all new cases in women), (Srijita-Dutta, 2015). Approximately, 32.5 million People diagnosed with cancer in 2008 were alive at the end of 2012. Most were women after their breast cancer diagnosis (6.3 million), men after their prostate cancer diagnosis (3.9 million), and men and women after their colorectal cancer diagnosis (3.5 million) (Popoola et al., 2013).

The incidence of colorectal carcinoma has been on the increase in the developing countries, including Nigeria, as a result of change in diet and adoption of western lifestyle (Echendu al., 2015). A total of 241 cases of colorectal carcinoma were reported, 144 cases (60%) in males and 96 cases (40%) in females with a male: female ratio of 1.5:1. The peak age of occurrence for males was between 51 and 60 years, while that of the females was between 41 and 50 years. The malignancy was found in the rectum in 60.2% of the cases, while the least affected site is the descending colon (1.2%) (NJCP, 2011).