Calligonum comosum extract inhibits diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

Abstract

Abstract. Calligonum comosum (C. comosum) is an Egyptian desert plant that contains polyphenol antioxidants. The present study examined the chemopreventive effect of an extract of C. comosum in a rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats (n=40) were administered 100 mg/kg diethylnitrosamine (DEN) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection once a week for 3 weeks. Subsequently, depending on whether the rats received further administration of 0.8 mg/kg carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) i.p. once a week for 7 weeks and 100 mg/kg C. comosum extract in their diet for 7 weeks, the rats were divided into four groups as follows: Group 1, treatment with DEN alone; group 2, treatment with DEN and C. comosum extract; group 3, treatment with DEN and CCl 4 ; and group 4, treatment with DEN, CCl 4 and C. comosum extract. The supplementation of C. comosum extract significantly suppressed the elevation in serum liver enzyme levels, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyl transferase, and reduced the degree of oval cell proliferation induced by DEN and CCl 4 . In addition, C. comosum extract significantly decreased the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive preneoplastic hepatic foci induced by DEN, with or without CCl 4 treatment. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to provide definitive evidence of the hepatoprotective and chemopreventive effects of C. comosum.

The molecular connection of histopathological heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma: A role of Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways

“…DEN is a potent hepatocarcinogen and is widely used for experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rodent models (reviewed in [18]). The DEN+Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) model of rat hepatocarcinogenesis was followed[19–20] in our experiment. At the completion of the 8‑week treatments, and after latency-period of two weeks we observed altered hepatic foci or morphologically recognizable lesions in DEN treated animals.…”

Fatty changes associated with N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma: A role of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway

“…Several studies have been done to investigate the molecular changes associated with DEN induced hepatocarcinogenesis [25], but none of the studies directly investigated DEN induced fatty metamorphoses during hepatocarcinogenesis. There are few studies which investigated the impact of high fat diet on DEN induced hepatocarcinogenesis, where high fat diet worked as a promoter [26].…”

Protective Effects of Garlic and Cinnamon Oils on Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Albino Rats

“…Regarding the serum biochemical analyses, we observed an elevation in serum ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT in DENA/2-AAF-treated rats. This augmentation may be due to hepatic necrosis and subsequent leakage of these enzymes from neoplastic cells or irreversibly damaged hepatic cells into circulation or may be due to possible effect of tumor on remote tissues leading to loss of its enzyme content and their released into the blood [26]. These findings go in agreement with the results of the current histopathological study which revealed multiple-variable-sized vacuoles in the hepatocytes, suggesting different stages of steatosis, multifocal areas of necrosis of HCC-bearing rats.…”