The potential therapeutic effect of Luteolin against Diethyl nitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main causes leading to cancer mortality. Luteolin derived from celery and has anti-cancer activity. Cisplatin is used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC. A major problem with Cisplatin is the development of Cisplatin chemo resistance. This study aims to evaluate the role of Luteolin in HCC treatment and as a chemo-sensitizer for Cisplatin treatment of HCC in rats. Sixty rats were divided in to sex groups, 10 rats each, group 1: normal control group, group 2: cisplatin (1.5 mg/Kg b.wt) for four weeks and group 3: received the Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) (20 mg/kg b.wt), group 4: received DEN as in group 3 and then treated with cisplatin, group 5: received DEN as in group 3 and then treated with Luteolin (0.2 mg/kg b.wt) and group 6: received DEN as in group 3 and then treated with cisplatin and Luteolin. After 10 weeks animals were sacrificed and liver tissue were removed for Histopathological and tissue parameters examination. A significant increase in serum serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, a significant decrease in serum albumin concentration. Also a significant increases in liver transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and nuclear factor kappa β (NF-kβ) concentrations and a significant decrease in Caspase.3 activity were recorded in DEN-treated rats while treatment with Luteolin and Cisplatin reduced the severity of HCC and enhanced histopathological findings, these result suggesting the efficacy of Luteolin supplementation as an anti-HCC.