Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CC) is the third most common cancer and the second deadliest
cancer in the world. Oxidative stress leads to cancer due to the accumulation of free radicals.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by losing electrons. Exercise and regular physical exercises
reduce the risk of CC. Medicinal plants, including algae, due to having modified metabolites as a
natural antioxidant, are direct scavengers of free radicals and improve performance by reducing
oxidative stress. Chlorella vulgaris is a single-cell green microalgae known as one of the
healthiest dietary supplements in Asia. This algae has various functional compounds such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and also because it has DNA and RNA, it is necessary for the repair and production of stem cells.
Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was employed to detect the vital genes related to oxidative
stress and antioxidant defense. Azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/kg b.w.) was gavaged for seven to
induce colorectal cancer. Mice were divided into Five groups (n=30): Healthy mice, mice
induced CC (CC group), CC mice performed exercise training with low/moderate intensity, CC
mice treated Chlorella vulgaris, CC mice performed exercise training, and Chlorella vulgaris.
The relative expression level of the genes was analyzed using Real-Time qPCR.
Results: The expression level of the NRF1/SIRT1/SOD was discovered by in-silico analysis.
The expression level of the NRF1/SIRT1/SOD significantly decreased in the CC group.
NRF1/SIRT1/SOD was increased by exercise training and Chlorella vulgaris.
Conclusion: Exercise training and Chlorella vulgaris ameliorated oxidative stress and
antioxidant defense. Furthermore, aerobic training and Chlorella modulated stress oxidative
signaling pathways.