IN VIVO ANTITUMOR POTENTIAL OF CARVACROL AGAINST HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA IN RAT MODEL
Hanaa H. Ahmed 1* , Wafaa Gh. Shousha 2 , Hatem A. El-Mezayen 2 ,Nora N. Ismaiel 3 , Nadia S. Mahmoud1
1Hormones Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
2Chemistry Department ,Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo , Egypt.
3Molecular Genetics and Enzymology Department, Human Genetics and Genome researches, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of carvacrol against
hepatocellular carcinoma-induced in rats. Forty male rats were divided
into 5 groups. Group (1) was negative control. Groups (2), (4) and (5)
were orally administrated diethylnitrosamine for induction of
hepatocellular carcinoma then group (2) was left untreated ; group (4)
was treated orally with carvacrol, while, group (5) were intraperitoneal
injected with doxorubicin. Group (3) was orally treated with carvacrol
only. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha L-fucosidase (AFU) and
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were assayed using
ELISA technique. Gamma glutammyl transferase (GGT) gene
expression was detected by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical analysis
of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 expression was
performed. Apoptosis was detected using DNA fragmentation assay.
Also, histological investigation of liver tissue was achieved. The untreated cancer group
showed significant elevation in the studied biochemical markers and appreciable increase in
GGT expression. Moreover, cancer group exhibited remarkable increase in PCNA and Ki-67
expression. Furthermore, this group revealed no DNA fragmentation. Histopathological
investigation of liver tissue sections in cancer group revealed typical anaplasia. In contrast,
the treated groups showed significant depletion in the studied tumor markers and downregulation in GGT gene expression. Also, these groups displayed marked decrease in
PCNA and Ki-67 expression. Carvacrol treated group revealed obvious DNA fragmentation.
While, doxorubicin treated group displayed smear DNA patterns. Interestingly, treatment
with carvacrol showed marked improvement in the histological feature of liver tissue. While,
treatment with doxorubicin revealed no remarkable difference from the cancer group. This
study indicated the promising therapeutic potential of carvacrol against hepatocellular
carcinoma through its antiangiogenic, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, carvacrol, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, in vivo.
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