Possible Involvement of Oxidative Stress in Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis: Chemopreventive Effect of Curcumin

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of curcumin against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Rats were divided into three groups. The first group served as a control. The second group received DEN (orally, 20 mg/kg) five times a week for 8 weeks, followed by 10 mg/kg for another 7 weeks. The third group was supplemented with 2% curcumin diet simultaneously with DEN. The results showed normalization of serum level of total antioxidant capacity, γ‐glutamyl transferase and aminotransferase activities along with deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid and malondialdehyde levels, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver of curcumin group. Significant decreases in the elevated level of glutathione, glutathione‐S‐transferase and glucose‐6‐P dehydrogenase activities were observed. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the relative liver weight were not significantly altered. Concomitantly, the histopathological damage was attenuated by curcumin. In conclusion, curcumin exerted a potential chemopreventive effect in DEN‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Various therapeutic effects, such as anti‐inflammatory, anti‐cancer, anti‐angiogenic and wound‐healing effects, have been described for curcumin. The present study is an endeavor in the direction of determining its possible mechanism of protection in diethylnitrosamine‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Our study proved that curcumin exhibits a hepatoprotective potential, and hence, it can be used as value‐added agents to limit both exposure to and the adverse health effects from dietary hepatocarcinogens.

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

“…Because GST‐pi (π) and ‐mu (μ) are the most extensively studied proteins in the GST superfamily, this study investigated the levels of GST isozymes alpha and mu in the DEN‐induced HCC model. Although several studies have reported that DEN‐induced carcinogenic liver injury could increase or decrease the hepatic activities of GST, we found that liver GST activities increased in rats fed with NLE and DEN. This suggests that NLE treatment contributes to liver protection against DEN‐induced free radicals and subsequent hepatocellular damage (Figures C and A).…”

Assessment of the Antitumor Potentiality of Newly Designed Steroid Derivatives: Pre-Clinical Study

“…4). These findings converge with those observed in the studies of Seufi et al, (2009) and Darwish and El-Boghdady., (2011).Microscopic investigation for liver tissue sections of rat administered NDEA and treated with DOXO showed fine fibrosis with brown pigment in between the hepatocytes (Figures 5 and 6). These observations fit with those obtained by El-Sayyad et al, (2009).…”

Gallium nanoparticles along with low-dose gamma radiation modulate TGF-β/MMP-9 expression in hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats

“…In group 3 , rats received DEN (20 mg/kg b.wt.) orally 5 times a week for 6 weeks 16 and left alive for 6 weeks; Group 4 rats were given DEN as in group 3 after that they were exposed to a single dose of gamma radiation 0.5 Gy (IR) and left alive for 6 weeks. In group 5 , rats were given DEN as in group 3 and after that, rats were supplemented with the GaNPs for 6 weeks till the end of the experiment.…”