Moringa oleifera as an apoptosis inducer for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly type of cancer. Globally incidence and mortality are expected to increase during the coming decades. Although deaths from colorectal cancer are very common in wealthy countries the disease's prevalence and death rate are also increasing in underdeveloped countries. Colorectal cancer is totally curable with surgery and the right medication if detected early. New methods of drug discovery and design are needed because the cancer treatments available today are costly and not generally available. As a result we covered in detail in this book the natural resource Moringa oleifera also referred to as the wonderful tree which prevents the growth of certain cancer cell types by triggering apoptosis. This book chapter discusses the phytochemicals found in M. oleifera especially its antioxidant phenols which are largely in charge of the plant's ability to cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. These compounds function by activating pro-apoptotic proteins such caspases TRAIL BAX and BAD and inhibiting the action of anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl2 IAPs and FLIP.