title: Ethanol extract of Phellinus merrillii protects against diethylnitrosamine- and 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study whether the ethanol extract of Phellinus merrillii (EPM) has chemopreventive potential against liver carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group, EPM control group, hepatocarcinoma control group, low-dose EPM group and high-dose EPM group, 6 in each group. Using the Solt and Farber protocol in a rat model of hepatocarcinogenesis, the chemopreventive effect of EPM on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and partial hepatectomy (PH)-promoted liver carcinogenesis in rats was evaluated. Basic pathophysiological and histological examinations, together with the serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of EPM at the concentration of 2 g/kg body weight in the diet for 8 weeks clearly prevented the development of carcinogenesis and reduced the levels of sGOT, sGPT, and serum γ-GT of rats as compared with the hepatocarcinoma control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). These phenotypes were accompanied by a significant increase in natural killer cell activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPM showed a strong liver preventive effect against DEN+2-AAF+PH-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in a rat model.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, Division of Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Applied Toxicology Division, Taiwan Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Taichung, Taiwan, 413, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, 970, China.
authors.forename: Heng-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, 970, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, Division of Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Department of Respiratory Therapy, Fu Jen Catholic University, Sinhuang, Taipei, Taiwan, 242, China.
authors.forename: Chia-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404, China.
authors.forename: Shyh-Shyun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404, China. gjhuang@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Guan-Jhong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, Division of Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan, Republic of China. hclai@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hsin-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene; D000818:Animals; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000139:chemically induced; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D000084682:Phellinus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: C526145:Phellinus linteus extract; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D000431:Ethanol; D015073:2-Acetylaminofluorene
keywords: 2-acetylaminofluorene; Phellinus merrillii; chemoprevention; diethylnitrosamine; hepatocarcinogenesis