The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant nature of ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna bark (EETA) on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in male Wistar albino rats. Liver cancer was induced by single intraperitonial injection of DEN (200 mg/kg). After 2 weeks of DEN administration, Phenobarbital (PB) was given to promote the cancer for up to 14 successive weeks. EETA extract (400 mg/kg) was given post-orally for 28 days to hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing rats. After the experimental period, all the animals were sacrificed and serum, liver and kidney samples were collected for further biochemical analysis. The levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) under basal and also in the presence of inducers (H(2)O(2), ascorbate and FeSO(4)) were estimated in serum, liver and kidney of control and experimental animals. Enzymic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and non-enzymic antioxidants like Vitamin C (Vit-C) and Vitamin E (Vit-E) levels were determined in all the groups of animals. A significant increase in LPO levels were observed while the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased, when subjected to DEN induction. These altered enzyme levels were ameliorated significantly by administration of EETA at the concentration of 400 mg/kg in drug-treated animals. This protective effect of EETA was associated with inhibition of LPO induced by DEN and to maintain the antioxidant enzyme levels. Our results show an antioxidant activity of T. arjuna bark against DEN-induced liver cancer.
The present study was designed to evaluate the nephroprotective role of methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera (A. aspera) an important herb in the Indian system of medicine against lead acetate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Toxicity was induced in male albino rats (Wistar strain) by administering lead acetate (0.2%) in drinking water for 6 weeks, followed by extract of A. aspera (200 mg/kg body weight). Changes in kidney weights encountered upon lead administration improved after extract with A. aspera. Lead damage to the urine was evident from increase in the activity of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT), Cathespin D, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), β-glucuronidase lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in urine along with some urinary constituents (urea, uric acid, creatinine, protein and phosphorous). The effects of lead were also studied in kidney (γ-GT, β-glucuronidase, NAG, Cathespin D and LDH) and showed a decline upon extract administration. Increased activities of urinary enzymes were accompanied by increase in the urinary constituents. Treatment with methanolic extract of A. aspera after lead induction completely ameliorated the lead-induced renal damage.
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