One of the most common tumors to cause death worldwide is colon cancer. This study aims to investigate the antitumor potency of Litophyton sp. methanolic extract (LME) against DMH-induced colon cancer in adult male rats. Group (1) normal rats served as the control, group (2) normal rats were ip-injected with LME at a dose of 100 μg/kg/day, group (3) DMH-induced colon cancer animals, and group (4) colon cancer-modeled animals were treated with LME (100 μg/kg/day) for six weeks. The results revealed that injection of LME markedly regenerated the colon cancer pathophysiological disorders; this was monitored from the significant reduction in the values of serum biomarkers (CEA, CA19.9, AFP), cytokines (TNF-α and IL1β), and biochemical measurements (ALAT, ASAT, urea, creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides) matched significant increase of apoptotic biomarkers (CD4+); similarly, colon DNA fragmentation, MDA, and NO levels were down-regulated. In contrast, a remarkable upregulation in colon SOD, GPx, GSH, and CAT levels was noted. Moreover, the colon histopathological architecture showed obvious regenerations. Chromatography of LME resulted in the purification of two polyhydroxylated steroids (1 and 2) with potential cytotoxic activities. LME performed therapeutic potential colon tumorigenesis; therefore, LME may have a promising chemo-preventive feature against colon cancer, probably via enhancement of the apoptosis pathway, improvement of the immune response, reduction of inflammation, or/and restoration of the impaired oxidative stress.

Background: Testicular dysfunction is one of the common side effects that results from the treatment with oxaliplatin® as a chemotherapy drug, and pharmaceutical search for agents to relieve the side effects are underway. The current study explored the possible ameliorative and regenerative effects of Costus ethanolic extract against testicular degeneration in male rats induced by oxaliplatin. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats weighing 150-200g were divided into four groups of 10 rats each as follows: group-1 control rats; group-2 rats treated orally with the extract at 50 mg/kg/day for six weeks; group-3 rats injected oxaliplatin intraperitoneally at 10 mg/kg/week for six successive weeks; group-4 rats were injected intraperitoneally with oxaliplatin at 10 mg/kg/week combined with a daily oral dose of the Costus extract for six weeks. Results: Data from the current study revealed that the extract lowered the toxic effect of oxaliplatin on the testicular tissue samples. This was evident by the significant rise in the serum of total & free testosterone and CD4 cells, and the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT activities in the testis coupled with a marked reduction of serum TNF-α and IL-1β and testis MDA, nitric oxide levels and DNA fragmentation. Also, the extract promoted the regeneration of the histopathological structure of the testis. Conclusion: This study proposes a novel therapeutic application for the Costus extract as a therapeutic agent against testicular toxicity induced by oxaliplatin treatment through its promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.