Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract treatment attenuated preneoplastic lesions and oxidative stress in the livers of diethylnitrosamine‐treated rats

Abstract

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) possesses antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and anticancer potential. This study determined the protective role of aqueous extract from Nelumbo nucifera leaves (NLE) against N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced oxidative stress and hepatocellular carcinogenesis in a sample of Sprague-Dawley rats. NLE was fed orally to rats in which hepatic carcinoma was induced with DEN for 12 weeks. Five groups of 12 rats each were used for the study: Group I (control group) rats received distilled water; Group II rats were induced with DEN; Group III rats were induced with DEN and cotreated with 0.5% NLE; Group IV rats were induced with DEN and cotreated with 1.0% NLE; and Group V rats were induced with DEN and cotreated with 2.0% NLE. Clinical chemistry, organ weight, inflammatory marker, protein expression, enzyme, and antioxidant analyses were conducted. NLE administration to rats resulted in significantly decreased levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and albumin, which is indicative of hepatocellular damage, compared with the control group. DEN-induced oxidative stress was inhibited by NLE and this inhibition was paralleled by decreased lipid peroxides and increased glutathione transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activity in liver tissues. The status of nonenzymatic antioxidants, such as reduced glutathione, was also found to be increased in NLE-administered rats. Furthermore, NLE decreased tumor size, hepatic Rac1, PKCα, and GSTπ expressions compared with the DEN-only group. Thus, supplementation of NLE reduced the adverse changes that occur because of liver cancer. These results prove that NLE protects against liver carcinogenesis induced because of treatment with DEN through blocking lipid peroxidation, hepatic cell damage, and enhancing the antioxidant defense system.

Diethylnitrosamine aggravates cadmium-induced hepatorenal oxidative damage in prepubertal rats

“…In the present study, the decrease in the GSH level and GST activity following exposure to DEN and Cd indicates their increased utilization by liver and kidney cells to scavenge toxic radicals. The present observations on the decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels corroborate with previous studies (Horng et al, 2017; Refaie et al, 2018). Further changes in the hepatic and renal antioxidant status in rats co-treated with DEN and Cd signify an additive effect in the suppression of the antioxidant defensive mechanism against cellular oxidative damage in the rats.…”

Effects of free and nanoparticulate curcumin on chemically induced liver carcinoma in an animal model

“…Moreover, HCC is widely considered as a chemotherapy-resistant disease. In view of these reasons, chemoprevention has been sug- gested as the paramount approach in lowering the occurrence and mortality associated with HCC [11].…”

“…Most currently available drugs for cancer therapy have a limited potential since they are extremely toxic, inefficient in treating cancer, or highly expensive and thus beyond the reach of most people. As a consequence of the limited progress attained by cancer chemotherapy over the past three decades, the interest of the researchers in the chemopre-vention of cancer has been raised [3], especially using nutraceuticals originating from nutritional sources which are naturally multi-targeting, less expensive, safer and instantly available [4].…”

Protective and therapeutic role of nano-curcumin against hepatocarcinogenesis in rat

“…As a result, chemoprevention has been proposed as the most important strategy for reducing HCC incidence and mortality. (Horng et al, 2017). It has been documented that curcumin has anti-tumor effects on many varieties affecting malignancies of the digestive, (Heger et al, 2014).…”