Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer

Figure 1

Cell damage and cancer trigger p53 activation. The p53 protein activates the apoptotic protein Bax. Bax inhibits the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. During apoptosis, cytochrome c is released from mitochondria. To activate the Apaf-1 protein, the interaction between these proteins and cytochrome C is necessary. Pro-caspase 9 attaches to Apaf-1 and activates caspase 9. Caspase 9 activates caspases 3 and 7 and apoptosis occurs.