Anti-preneoplastic and anti-fibrogenetic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis

Abstract

To investigate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) against hepatocarcinogenesis, the present study was conducted. To induce hepatocarcinogenesis rats with Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at 100 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally on Day 1 followed by 0.01 % DEN in drinking water ad libitum for 60 days. Zinc oxide nanoparticles as aqueous suspension was gavaged orally at a dose rate of 25 mg/kg body weight for 15 days prior to DEN treatment in ZnO NPs pre-treatment group and concurrently with DEN for 60 days in ZnO NPs concurrent treatment group. DEN induced severe hepatic damage and formation of preneoplastic altered hepatic foci by 30th day and severe fibrotic tissue proliferation with development of hepatic adenoma and carcinoma by 60th day. In pre-treatment and concurrent treatment groups, ZnO NPs reduced the extent of hepatic damage, prevented the formation of altered hepatic foci by 30th day and drastically reduced the extent of fibrotic tissue proliferation by 60th day which were determined through routine histopathology of hepatic tissue and special staining techniques alongside gross observation of liver.