Catharanthus roseus Plant Extracts (Cultivated in vitro and ex vitro) Protect Wistar Rats Against Chemically Induced Liver Carcinogenesis

The plant extracts of Catharanthus roseus L. (G). Don has been used in alternate medicine for years, but the curing mechanism of these extracts is still not scientifically elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro and ex vitro cultivated plant extracts in protecting the model rat against diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Leaf (field and in vitro cultivated) and callus extract were administered to rats that were divided into 6 groups (G1–G6) of 6 each. The animals in each group except G1 were injected with a single dose of DEN (200 mg/kg body weight) to initiate hepatocarcinoma. Six different treatments were created; T1 (normal control), T2 (induced control); and the treated groups, T3 to T6, which received field grown or in vitro raised plant extract at various doses (300 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day). The treatments were continued for eight weeks. Biochemical variables like glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and comparative hematology and histopathological differences were investigated. The alkaloid levels of extracts were also quantified. In carcinogenic animals, the GSH (12.80 μg/g), GST (0.38 μmol/min/mg protein), ALP (19.88 IU/L), and AST (43.61 IU/L) levels were high compared to normal. The in vitro harvested leaf extract at 100 mg/kg was the most effective treatment that reduced the levels markedly. Histological analysis confirmed the anticarcinogenic protective role of the plant extracts as treated animals showed recovery in micro fatty changes, and had reduced dilated sinusoids and localized focal degeneration. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantified maximum accumulation of vinblastine in in vitro developed leaf extract (13.25 μg/g) compared to field grown leaf (10.72 μg/g). Vincristine content was also high (3.27 μg/g) in in vitro cultivated leaf extract. This extra accumulation of phytocompounds in extracts may be responsible for recovery from DEN caused carcinogenic damages. The protocol has advantages as preparation of extracts is easy compared to pure alkaloids, which often have toxic side effects.