title: Inhibitory effect of phytoglycoprotein (24 kDa) on hepatocarcinogenesis in N-nitrosodiethylamine-treated ICR mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is becoming one of the most prominent types of cancer in the world. For a long time in Korea Zanthoxylum piperitum DC (ZPDC) has been used in folk medicine to cure several cancers and inflammation. This study was designed to investigate whether ZPDC glycoprotein protected liver tissues against hepatocarcinogenic compounds such as N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN).
  
  
  METHODS
  To study the chemopreventive effect of ZPDC glycoprotein on hepatocarcinogenesis, ICR mice were injected intraperitoneally with DEN (50 mg/kg) for four weeks. We evaluated the indicators of liver tissue damage (the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)), antioxidative enzymes (activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), hepatocarcinogenic indicator (heat shock protein (HSP) 70) and hepatocarcinogenic signals (activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9) using biochemical methods and immunoblot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained from this study revealed that ZPDC glycoprotein (20 mg/kg) decreased the levels of LDH, ALT, and TBARS, whereas the activity of SOD and GPx increased in the DEN-treated ICR mice. With respect to the hepatocarcinogenic indicator and hepatocarcinogenic signals, HSP70, NF-κB, COX-2, and MMP-9 activity decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggested that ZPDC glycoprotein prevented damage to liver tissue caused by DEN in the experimental mouse model.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biochemistry Laboratory, Biotechnology Research Institute, Chonnam National University, Gwang-ju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kye-Taek
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D032106:Zanthoxylum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9