For centuries, Artemisia herba-alba, also known as common wormwood or herba alba, has been a staple in traditional medicine across North Africa and the Middle East. Used to treat a variety of ailments from bronchitis to diabetes, this unassuming herb might just hold the key to a new weapon in the fight against colorectal cancer. A recent study from the University of Sharjah has revealed that A. herba-alba contains compounds with significant therapeutic potential against this prevalent and deadly disease.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a global health concern, ranking as the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. With rising cases and the challenges of traditional chemotherapy, including drug resistance and harmful side effects, the need for new and effective treatments is more urgent than ever. This is where Artemisia herba-alba enters the spotlight.
The research, published in Food Science and Nutrition, details how scientists investigated the effects of A. herba-alba extract on various colorectal cancer cell lines. The results were striking. The extract demonstrated a powerful ability to:
- Halt cancer cell growth: The extract effectively stopped the proliferation of cancerous cells, regardless of their specific genetic characteristics.
- Induce cell death (apoptosis): It triggered programmed cell death in cancer cells, essentially forcing them to self-destruct.
- Disrupt key cancer-related pathways: The extract interfered with crucial pathways involved in cancer development, including the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and proteins like Cyclin B1 and CDK1 that regulate cell division.
“These results suggest that Artemisia herba-alba has great potential as a new tool in fighting CRC,” says Dr. Lara Bou Malhab, lead author of the study. “It could be a promising natural ingredient for new cancer treatments based on our findings.”
