Hepato‐protective effects of R‐phycoerythrin‐rich protein extract of Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) Silva against DEN‐induced hepatocellular carcinoma

The present investigation evaluates the hepato‐protective potential of R‐phycoerythrin (R‐PE)‐rich protein extract obtained from Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) Silva against H₂O₂‐induced hepatotoxicity using HepG2 cells (in vitro) and male Wistar albino Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rats (in vivo). H₂O₂ treatment led to dose‐dependent decreases in cell viability of HepG2, which was ameliorated by the treatment with R‐PE‐rich extract. In vivo studies showed that all the vital parameters including enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants as well as liver marker enzymes were affected in the experimentally induced HCC male Wistar rats upon exposure to the N‐diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a carcinogen. However, there was moderate to better restoration of such parameters in the carcinoma rats treated with R‐PE‐rich protein extract. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Therapeutic alternatives originating from food or food supplements are gaining popularity as “nutritional therapy” and they are well studied for their chemo‐preventive effects. Investigations of several food‐derived bioactive compounds revealed their ability to antagonize dysregulated targets in cellular signaling pathways to exhibit antineoplastic activities. Isolation of bioactive molecules present in marine food products and determination of their broad range pharmaceutical activity by means of deducing specific molecular targets as well as establishing minimal toxicity to normal tissues could aid in treatment of cancer. Phycobiliproteins are an important group of pigment molecules extracted from the red and blue green algae. A study was envisaged to evaluate the anticancer potential of RPERPE (R‐PE‐rich protein extract) obtained from P. hornemannii (Lyngbye) Silva against HCC using male Wistar albino rats as models. This study offers the scope of using the R‐PE‐rich protein extract of P.hornemannii for developing therapeutic anticancer formulation.