Antihepatotoxic activity of Euphorbia neriifolia extract against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.

OBJECTIVE

To scrutinize the protective role of hydroethanolic extract of Euphorbia neriifolia leaves (HEEN) against N-nitrosodiethylamine (DENA)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male Swiss albino mice.

METHODS

Experimental mice were pretreated with 150 and 400 mg/kg of HEEN, or 0.5% and 1% of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as a standard for 14 d prior to the administration of a single dose of 50 mg/kg of DENA. Levels of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome (Cyt) P450 and Cyt b5, activities of reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total protein and cholesterol content in the liver tissues were measured to determine the hepatotoxicity caused by DENA.

RESULTS

The levels of Cyt P450 and Cyt b5 were significantly increased, and GST and GSH were significantly depleted after DENA treatment (P<0.01). The activities of AST, ALT and ALP, and the total protein content were also significantly dropped off (P<0.01). The total cholesterol level was markedly increased by DENA as compared with the normal group (P<0.01). However, the pre-supplementation of HEEN showed a remarkable amelioration of these abnormalities, and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes in the liver were significantly restored, which exhibited the dose-dependent protective effect against DENA-induced hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

HEEN exerts its chemopreventive effects by alleviating the xenobiotic enzymes and enhancing the levels of antioxidants and biochemical assays in DENA-induced carcinogenesis by reducing the formation of free radicals.