Potential chemopreventive role of chrysin against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

Chrysin is a naturally occurring biological compound, found in honey, propolis and in many plants showing anticancer, anti-inflammation and antioxidant properties. In the present study we focused mainly on the chemopreventive effects of chrysin against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in Wistar albino by assessing the levels of tumour markers, serum liver marker enzymes, oxidative stress indices, histopathological changes and expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Significant increases in liver weight, liver marker enzymes such as transaminases, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, lactate dehydrogenase, 5′ nucleotidase were observed in rats with N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Animal treated with chrysin shows attenuation of biochemical and histological changes significantly when compared to N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced animals. Alpha-feto protein and carcino embryogenic antigen are well-known tumour markers and their levels were significantly increased in rats with N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma and these levels reduced markedly with chrysin treatment. Chemopreventive effect of chrysin further confirmed by observing the histopathological changes, proliferating cell nuclear antigen expressions by western blotting analysis. Restoration of the normal architecture of liver tissue and decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen and tumor marker expressions were observed in chrysin treated animal groups. With confining these data, the chemopreventive role of chrysin has been well established against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.