Protective effect of Emilia sonchifolia on azaserine-induced pancreatic dysplasia

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Emilia sonchifolia on azaserine (O-diazoacetyl-L-serine)-induced pancreatic dysplasia in Wistar albino rats. Administration of azaserine [30 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal (i.p.) weekly for 1 month] to male Wistar albino rats resulted in pancreatic dysplasia, which was evident from the histopathological studies. A significant decrease of pancreatic and hepatic enzymatic antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and non-enzymatic antioxidants like vitamin C, glutathione (GSH) content, and a significant increase in pancreatic serum amylase and lipase, and hepatic marker enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were found. Treatment of rats with the n-hexane extract of Emilia sonchifolia for 16 weeks resulted in a concomitant reduction in pancreatic and hepatic damage. The results suggest that Emilia sonchifolia can be used as a therapeutic agent against precancerous lesions which could prevent pancreatic dysplasia.