Affiliation:
1. Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Jounieh P.O. BOX 446, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
2. Department of Internal Medicine, Ain Wazein Medical Village, Chouf P.O. Box 1503-210/02, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon
3. Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology/Hematology Division, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Abstract
The etiology of colon cancer is either genetic in nature or results from inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease; nevertheless, dietary habits play a crucial role in the disease. Wheatgrass is a dietary supplement that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which contribute to health promotion in cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, blood diseases, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as in several types of cancers, such as oral squamous cell cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancer. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the prospect that wheatgrass possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, and its use as an adjunctive therapy, have been minimally investigated and evidence is still limited. In this review, we compiled the available evidence pertaining to wheatgrass and its likely impact on CRC, described the pathways of inflammation in which wheatgrass could possibly play a role, and identified future research needs on the subject.