Silymarin downregulates COX-2 expression and attenuates hyperlipidemia during NDEA-induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma.
Silymarin is a naturally available bioflavonoid and is a strong antioxidant with a capacity to inhibit the formation of tumors in several cancer models. In the present study, we investigated whether dietary supplementation of silymarin has any role in lipid components, lipid-metabolizing enzymes, free fatty acid profile, and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. NDEA-induced rats showed severe hyperlipidemia along with upregulated expression of COX-2 as revealed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Dietary silymarin supplementation attenuated this hyperlipidemia and downregulated the expression of COX-2. Thus we conclude that compounds like silymarin with potent hypolipidemic effect are strong candidates as chemopreventive agents for the treatment of liver cancer.
Ramakrishnan
Gopalakrishnan
G
Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy campus, Chennai 600025, Tamilnadu, India.
Elinos-Báez
Carmen Martha
CM
Jagan
Sundaram
S
Augustine
Titto Alby
TA
Kamaraj
Sattu
S
Anandakumar
Pandi
P
Devaki
Thiruvengadam
T
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D012838:Silymarin; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2