title: Effect of Pomegranate Hull Extract on Liver Neoplastic Changes in Rats: More than an Antioxidant.
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The current work was designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumorigenic effect of pomegranate hull extract (PHE) in livers of rats exposed to the hepatocarcinogen diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) with emphasis on oxidative stress, proliferation, and apoptosis. Male albino rats were divided into three groups: normal control, DENA group, and PHE group. PHE was given to rats orally 3 times weekly for 10 wk, 4 wk before and 6 wk after DENA (200 mg/kg, single i.p. dose). The results indicated a prophylactic effect of PHE against neoplastic changes in the liver, which was evidenced by the decrease of tumor size, liver index, and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2; and the increase of glutathione. PHE group also showed decreased expression of liver cyclin D1 and β-catenin genes compared with DENA group. It is proved that PHE has antitumorigenic effect and could be a candidate for anticancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University.
authors.forename: Nahla E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: El-Ashmawy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University.
authors.forename: Eman G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Khedr
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University.
authors.forename: Hoda A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Bahrawy
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tanta University.
authors.forename: Eslam E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Abd El-Fattah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine / Q000633:toxicity; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D015996:Survival Rate; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000187:drug effects; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; C000617196:Bcl2 protein, rat; D002273:Carcinogens; C530106:Ccnd1 protein, rat; C495268:Ctnnb1 protein, rat; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051176:beta Catenin; D019938:Cyclin D1; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine