Hepatoprotective activity of quercetin against diethylnitrosamine - induced liver carcinogenesis in rats

ABSTRACT

Chemoprevention has emerged as a very effective preventive measure against carcinogenesis. Several bioactive compounds present in fruits and vegetables have revealed cancer protective and curative on carcinogenesis. In the present study, the efficacy of quercetin on oxidative and nitrosative stress markers, membrane integrity markers and alterations in DNA and RNA levels in diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis in rats was assessed. In liver cancer bearing animals there was an increase in serum liver function indices, liver malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, DNA and RNA levels, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and cytosolic cytochrome C oxidase [as a marker for mitochondrial membrane integrity] activities, along with decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glucose-6-phosphatase [as a marker for plasma membrane integrity] and xanthine oxidase activities. Quercetin supplementation [50mg/kg body weight p.o.] attenuated all these alterations, which indicates the anticancer effect that was further confirmed by histopathological examination. Overall, the above data shows that quercetin could face the liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine. This is could be mediated through combating oxidative stress of free radicals and protecting the cellular membranes from the deleterious effects of diethylnitrosamine