Background Information

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease in the large intestine, also known as the colon, that affects the epithelium and causes ulcers to produce. The mucous and pus formed by the ulcers results in abdominal pain in patients of all ages.

The tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) has been identified for its significant impact in the downregulation of the progression of ulcerative colitis. The TNF-α pathway is found in cancer cells like colorectal cancer and many autoimmune diseases similar to ulcerative colitis. Biologics known as anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents bind and block a small protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) that promotes inflammation in the intestine as well as other organs and tissues. Even though all anti -TNF medications have been shown to reduce the symptoms of IBD, and heal the inflamed intestine, biologics can impact your ability to fight infections by weakening the immune system. Further, anti-TNF medications increase the risk of developing less common, or atypical infections like tuberculosis or Hepatitis B.

Simarouba glauca, a tropical tree known as the Paradise Tree, is known for the various parts of the plant that have medicinal value. To be able to use the bark as a tonic, a decoction(the powder is boiled in water and diluted) is made and consumed by patients to treat hemorrhages, fevers, colitis, and malaria.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to determine which concentration of simarouba glauca, an alternative medicine, can induce apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells that contain the TNF-alpha pathway, and how this apoptosis rate can compare with the current treatment for colorectal cancer and ulcerative colitis.

Hypothesis

If colorectal cancer cells were treated with varying concentrations of simarouba glauca, then apoptosis of the colorectal cancer cells would be observed.

If colorectal cancer cells were treated with varying concentrations of simarouba glauca, then increasing the concentration of simarouba glauca would increase the apoptosis rate of the colorectal cancer cells.

If a treatment of 500 mg/ml of simarouba glauca and another treatment of 500 mg/ml of the anti-TNF treatment are compared, then the apoptosis rate of the cells treated with simarouba glauca would be greater because of the anti-cancer properties of simarouba glauca.