Protective Effect of α-Momorcharin on Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Status in Diethylnitrosamine Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Animal Model

The present investigation is part of continuing programme related to the biochemical screening of local plants used in Ancient Indian Medicine, Ayurveda, Siddha and Yunani. Our study aims at elucidating the antioxidant efficiency of α-momorcharin from (Momordica charantia L.) for its protective effect (antioxidant) against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rat liver carcinogenesis. Studies have shown that N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induces lipid peroxidation and alters the antioxidant status in nontarget organisms. In our present study, an attempt has been made to study the effect of N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on biochemical parameters and ameliorating effect of α-momorcharin. Adult male wistar rats were divided into six different groups. Rats are in group I received standard pellet diet and served as control, group II rats were induced with hepatocellular carcinoma by providing 0.01 % DEN through water for 15 weeks. Group III rats received α-momorcharin via intragastric intubation at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg body weight for 16 weeks every day. Groups IV to VI rats received 0.01% of DEN as in group II along with α-momorcharin via intragastric intubation at a daily dose of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight for throughout the experimental period of 16 weeks. N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induction leads to reduction in the levels of Enzymic and Non-Enzymic antioxidants levels. However, on treatment with α-momorcharin normalized the levels of all the biochemical parameters. These findings highlight the efficacy of α-momorcharin as protective (antioxidant) effects against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced oxidative stress. Histological observations of liver tissue too correlated with the above biochemical findings. These results clearly suggest that α-momorcharin treatment prevents liver damage, lipid peroxidation and protects the antioxidant defense system in DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis in rats.