title: Preventive Effect of Geraniol on Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Geraniol is a plant-derived phytochemical possessing anti-cancer action. The anti-carcinogenic effect of geraniol was investigated in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenic rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with 300 μL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (G1; n = 4) or DEN (100 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in PBS (G2; n = 8) every 2 weeks on experimental weeks 2, 4 and 6. The rats were treated with a low concentration (0.07%) of geraniol (G3; n = 9) and high concentration (0.35%) of geraniol (G4; n = 7) for 12 weeks. To evaluate the effects of geraniol on the DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, we compared the relative liver weight, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glutathione S transferase-P (GST-P) by immunohistochemical analyses among each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative liver weight was significantly higher in G2 than in G1 (P < 0.01). Both serum AST and ALT levels were significantly higher in G2 than in G3 and in G4 (P < 0.05). Serum ALP levels did not show a significant difference among each group. Percentages of both PCNA- and GST-P- positive area were significantly decreased in G3 and in G4 compared to in G2 (P < 0.001, respectively), suggesting anti-hepatocarcinogenic effects of geraniol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Geraniol is a promising compound useful for suppression of hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms of action are required to be clarified in the future intensive study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imamoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasunaka
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Murawaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine and Clinical Science, Department of Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8504, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Isomoto
keywords: diethylnitrosamine; geraniol; hepatocellular carcinoma