Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US and in Jamaica, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both sexes in the US. While CRC is affected by modifiable factors such as environment, physical activity, Quetelet's index, diet, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, it is of noteworthy concern that it ranks as the third leading cause of death among young cancer patients aged 20–49 in the US. Approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Jamaica between 2008 and 2012 were younger than 50 years old. A recent study on a murine model showed that moving away from a Western diet even after carcinogenesis may reduce tumor burden, demonstrating that incorporating dietary compounds containing anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties may have added benefits in treating and preventing colorectal cancer. Given that nature has inspired significant solutions to cancer therapy in the past four decades and the demonstrated reliance and confidence on ethnomedicines by cancer patients, it is imperative that nature’s sources be fully evaluated as novel therapeutic options for the treatment and prevention of CRC.

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