Suppressive effect of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
Astragalus membranaceus (AM) has been widely used for treating liver diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Experimental evidence indicates that it has antitumor potential. In this study, the effect of AM on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), two-thirds partial hepatectomy, and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) (DEN-PH-AAF) was evaluated using glutathione S-transferase placenta form (GST-P) as marker. First, rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with DEN (200 mg/kg in saline), a two-thirds partial hepatectomy was carried out 2 weeks later, and the rats were then placed on a basal diet containing 0.02% AAF from week 3 to week 8 to induce hepatocarcinogenesis. The rats were given AM (90 mg/kg or 180 mg/kg body weight) by gavage from week 3 to week 8 (treatment groups). The formation of GST-P-positive foci and the expression of GST-P protein and mRNA caused by DEN-PH-AAF were reduced in the treatment groups, which clearly suggests that AM is effective in delaying DEN-PH-AAF-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Cui
Rutao
R
Molecular Carcinogenesis Unit, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 cours Albert-Thomas, 69372 Lyon, Cedex 08, France. cuirutao@iarc.fr
He
Jinchun
J
Wang
Baoen
B
Zhang
Fukui
F
Chen
Guangyong
G
Yin
Shanshan
S
Shen
Hong
H
D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D010936:Plant Extracts; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D005982:Glutathione Transferase