Potency of Andrographolide as an Antitumor Compound in BHC-Induced Liver Damage

Ancient health science, such as Ayurveda of India, depends on natural products. Ayurveda is still an active and important system of medicine in India. Many Ayurvedic herbal preparations have found their way in the pharmacopeias of different countries. With the advent of chemotherapy, several of these preparations are supplemented by more effective or less toxic synthetic drugs. It is now generally felt that the bulk of the drugs in use are human made. Continuous use of such synthetic xenobiotic and therapeutic agents may affect the metabolic and excretory functions leading to secondary physiological changes in liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the primary malignancies associated with physiological Relevance. The present investigation relates to the influence of andrographolide, an active compound of Andrographis paniculata Nees. It reverses an experimental liver carcinogenic condition of mice to normal and might be a potential therapeutic/preventive agent for human liver cancer. Objective. A. paniculata (Kalmegh) is extensively used in the Indian traditional system of medicine as a hepatoprotective and hepatostimulative agent and has been reported to have protective effect against different hepatotoxins. Materials and methods. Histomorphological, ultrastructural, and biochemical studies were performed for the effect of the andrographolide on control mice, mice treated with hexachlorocyclohexane (BHC) only and BHC + andrographolide. Enzymes for liver function tests were analyzed by spectrophotometric method. Results. The BHC experimental model forms an irreversible liver tumor in male mice. The histological and ultrastructural changes observed in andrographolide supplementation emphasize the recovery of the damaged liver. This recovery was also reflected in the neoplastic nodule formation. The activity of phosphorylase and glucose-6-phosphatase in the liver of the andrographolidesupplemented group suggests improved glycogenolysis in liver. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxalate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase showed a significant decrease in andrographolide-supplemented animals as compared with BHC-treated animals, suggesting regenerative effects elicited by andrographolide. Conclusion. The study indicates that the regenerative capability elicited by andrographolide is possibly due to its ability to reactivate liver function enzymes that catalyze the reaction of several biochemical and synthetic processes and that it may be useful for severe liver damage conditions.