Anticarcinogenic activity of kalpaamruthaa, a modified Siddha preparation, against aflatoxin–B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

To investigate the potential anticancer effect of kalpaamrutha (KA), a modified Siddha preparation, against aflatoxin–B1(AFB1)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats, KA (200 mg/kg body weight/day) was administered to AFB1-induced (2 mg/kg body weight i.p.) HCC rats, orally for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period, changes in body weight were recorded; the levels of alpha-fetoprotein and total protein was estimated in the serum; activities of marker enzymes were assayed in serum and total protein; DNA and RNA contents were estimated in liver tissue; activities of glycolytic enzymes, mitochondrial Krebs cycle enzymes, and respiratory chain enzymes were assayed in liver tissue of control and experimental rats. Further histopathological examination of the liver sections was carried out to support the anticancer effect of KA against AFB1-induced HCC. Administration of KA overall increase in glycolytic enzymes with a subsequent reduction in gluconeogenic enzymes, mitochondrial Krebs cycle enzymes, and respiratory chain enzymes was observed in HCC-induced rats. These altered enzyme activities were effectively counteracted by supplementation with KA and also prevented the body weight loss by enhancing the host energy metabolism. Histological studies supported the biochemical findings. The results of the present study reveal that the drug KA has potential anticancer effect against AFB1-induced HCC rats.