title: Anticancer activity of Cynodon dactylon L. root extract against diethyl nitrosamine induced hepatic carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers and a lethal disease. In view of the limited treatment and a grave prognosis of liver cancer, preventive control has been emphasized.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methanolic extract of roots of Cynodon dactylon was screened for its hepato-protective activity in diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in Swiss albino mice. The plant extract at a dose of 50 mg/kg was administered orally once a week, up to 30 days after DEN administration. The animals were sacrificed; blood sample and liver tissue were collected and used for enzyme assay such as, asparatate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The liver marker enzymes AST and ALT produced significant results in the protective action.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The antioxidant enzyme assay results concerning the improved activity of GPx, GST and CAT. These results concluded that enhanced levels of antioxidant enzyme and reduced amount of serum amino transaminase, which are suggested to be the major mechanisms of C. dactylon root extract in protecting the mice from hepatocarcinoma induced by DEN. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methanolic extract of C. dactylon possesses significant anticancer properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kowsalya
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Jagatheesh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaliaperumal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaishnavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Elangovan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Namasivayam
keywords: Anticancer; Cynodon dactylon L; N-diethyl nitrosamine; marker enzymes