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Abstract

Aim:

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of β-asarone on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced and phenobarbital-promoted hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Materials and Methods:

The experiments were carried out with two models, i.e., tumor initiation and promotion model. The effect of β-asarone was evaluated by the estimation of food and water consumption, body and liver weights, liver function indicators such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total and direct bilirubin, cancer indicators such as alpha-fetoprotein, DNA, RNA, and total liver protein content, and histopathological studies.

Results:

The results showed that the levels of liver function indicators were brought down to near normal level by β-asarone. Similarly, cancer indicators were also brought down to near normal level by β-asarone. A comparative histopathological study of liver, treated with β-asarone exhibited normal architecture, which was found to be disrupted in DEN-treated rats.

Conclusion:

The results indicate that the β-asarone has significant hepatoprotective effect and may potentially possess an anticancer activity.

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