Media University of Babylon | College of Medicine, University of Babylon Discusses a Master’s Thesis on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Using Al-Aqool Plant Extracts

Media University of Babylon - Faculty of Medicine

College of Medicine, University of Babylon Discusses a Master’s Thesis on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Using Al-Aqool Plant Extracts

By : Zaynab Kadhim Ameen Awadh

Date : 23/12/2025 31:24:09 AM

College of Medicine, University of Babylon Discusses a Master’s Thesis on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Using Al-Aqool Plant Extracts
The Postgraduate Studies Hall at the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, witnessed the defense of a Master’s thesis submitted by the student Ahmed Amer Idris, entitled:
“The Effect of Aqueous and Alcoholic Extracts of the Al-Aqool Plant (Alhagi graecorum) on Cell Viability and Oxidative Stress in Colon Cancer Cell Lines.”
The study was conducted under the supervision of:
•Asst. Prof. Dr. Riyadh Hadi Hashim
• Prof. Dr. Tariq Hussein Mughir
The defense session was attended by a number of faculty members and postgraduate students. In a scientific atmosphere, the researcher presented his study, which was carried out in the Postgraduate Research Laboratory at the college during the period from September to October 2025.
The research addressed colorectal cancer (CRC), which is considered the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, seeking alternative medicine approaches to enhance current therapeutic protocols. The study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the plant Alhagi graecorum, locally known as Al-Aqool or Camel Thorn, when combined with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), the main chemotherapeutic drug used for this disease.
The methodology included culturing SW480 colon cancer cells and treating them with different concentrations of the aqueous and alcoholic plant extracts in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent. The study yielded promising scientific results, most notably:
• Synergistic effect: The combination of Al-Aqool plant extracts with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC??) of 5-FU resulted in a significant reduction in cancer cell viability, surpassing the effect of the drug alone.
• Induction of oxidative stress: The results revealed a marked increase in the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) when the combined treatment was used, leading to enhanced oxidative stress and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cancer cells, thereby contributing to more effective cell elimination.
The thesis concluded that combining Al-Aqool plant extracts with conventional chemotherapy enhances the drug’s cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This opens new applied prospects for utilizing local medicinal plants in developing safer and more effective therapeutic strategies for combating malignant tumors.