Natural Products for Treating Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the causes of cancer-related mortalities across the globe. Epidemiological studies reveal the risk factors for CRC are genetic and environmental factors. The current therapeutic methods for CRC are associated with side effects and drug resistance. Gut microbiome therapy is one of the recent approaches for the prevention of CRC, reducing its progression and improving the effectiveness of colorectal cancer treatment by modulating the gut microbiome. The use of phytoconstituents is another approach. These compounds increase the gene expression of the cell cycle inhibitors and protein levels. This chapter summarizes the role of the gut microbiome and modification of the gut microbiota to improve treatment efficacy and minimize adverse effects of CRC therapies. Natural candidates like gut microbes and plant-derived bioactive components demonstrate their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models and clinical studies, which may lead to the discovery of alternative therapies for colorectal cancer.