A Master’s thesis at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Al-Qadisiyah University, entitled “Evaluating the Efficacy of an Alcoholic Extract of a Crab on Cancer Cells,” was submitted by researcher Mustafa Daibil Sarhan and supervised by Assistant Professor Dr. Ishtar Adnan Mohammed Al-Adhari.

The thesis aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of a methanolic extract derived from the crab Brachyura by comparing its selective effects on human cervical cancer cells and normal Chinese hamster ovarian cells, identifying its main chemical components, and assessing their potential contribution to biological activity.

The most important recommendations include conducting further studies to isolate and characterize the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed anticancer activity using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, and carrying out additional mechanistic investigations to evaluate other cell cycle regulation and apoptosis markers, including caspase-3, caspase-9, and cytochrome c. p53, Bcl-2, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were analyzed to elucidate the molecular pathways involved.

Evaluating the potential synergistic effects between the extract and conventional chemotherapeutic agents may provide insights into combination therapies with enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity.