Original Articles
Mohamed H Sherif, Al-Shimaa M
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of phloretin in treatment of induced HCC in rats. Fifty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups (n=10, each). Group I (control group), Group II (DMSO group). Group III (preventive) (pre-treated with phloretin for 2 weeks before HCC induction and continued during induction period). Group IV was HCC – Induced (DENA) group. Group V (therapeutic group) (treated with phloretin after HCC induction). Blood samples and liver tissues were collected at the end of the experiment. The results revealed that DENA induced liver damage as evidenced by significantly increase in (ALT), (AST), (ALP) (GGT) activities and decrease in albumin content. Also, caused oxidative stress as indicated by increase in (MDA) and (NO) level and decrease in (GSH), (GST) and (CAT) activity compared with the control values. Also, it decreased apoptosis by decrease in Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 concentration. Treatment with phloretin significantly reduced increased liver enzymes and oxidative stress; it also induced apoptosis by significant increase in Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 concentration compared to HCC group. Conclusions: this study suggests that phloretin plays an important role in protection against DENA induced HCC.