Amelioration of Withaferin-A on the alterations of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes: an experimental study using a rat model of Hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Amelioration of Withaferin –A on the alterations of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes on N–Nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in Wistar rats. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) belongs to the group of epithelial cancers and represents with a frequency of about 85 % the most common primary liver cancer. The estimated incidence may be located between 500.000-1.000.000 new cases per year and is characterized by a wide geographic variation; it ranges from less than 10 cases / 100.000 in the USA and Western Europe to 50 - 150 cases / 100.000 in parts of Africa and Asia.  The most prominent etiological factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma are chronic hepatitis B and C viral infections, chronic ethanol abuse and intake of aflatoxin B1- contaminated food.  Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced in rats by N–Nitrosodiethylamine at the dosage of  0.01% of DEN was dissolved in drinking water and administered to experimental animals daily for 15 weeks after conformation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with Withaferin-A for 21 days. The levels of carbohydrate enzymes were significantly decreased were markedly increased in Withaferin-A treated animals when compared with cancer bearing animals. Moreover, the levels of carbohydrate metabolic enzymes a good indicators of restoring the liver architecture, were also reversed in liver  damage subjects after treatment with the herbal compounds preparation. So, from the obtained results it is concluded that a Withaferin-A is capable of restoring the liver architecture and can also increase the carbohydrate metabolic activities in hepatocellular carcinoma rats.