Publication: Therapeutic efficacy of a Dioscorea membranacea extract in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma: Histopathological aspects
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Issued Date
2021
Resource Type
Language
eng
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
22254110
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85101276976
Rights Holder(s)
Scopus
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Vol 11, No.5 (2021), p.400-408
Suggested Citation
Kerdput V., Nilbu-Nga C., Kaewnoonual N., Itharat A., Pongsawat S., Pradidarcheep W. Therapeutic efficacy of a Dioscorea membranacea extract in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma: Histopathological aspects. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. Vol 11, No.5 (2021), p.400-408. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.02.001 Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/4307
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is most common in adults and has a high mortality rate because of a lack of effective treatment options. We investigated the effect of a medicinal plant as a potential source of drugs against HCC. The rhizomes of Dioscorea membranacea Pierre (DM), Hua-Khao-Yen in Thai, are commonly used as ingredients for alternative treatment of cancer in Thailand. In this study, the anticancer effects of DM extract in HCC-bearing rats were evaluated with respect to gross morphology, histopathology, and leakage of liver enzymes. In untreated HCCs, typical features of liver cancer, including hepatic nodules, thick-cell cords, and pseudoglandular cell arrangements, were observed. In addition, the HCCs showed abnormal reticulin patterns and a high glypican3 expression. In HCC-bearing rats treated with DM the cancer areas and reticulin expression were significantly reduced compared to the untreated group (p < 0.01). Sorafenib, the standard drug to treat HCC, reduced the cancer area further, but increased leakage of liver enzymes and decreased serum albumin concentration, indicating liver toxicity. These findings suggest that DM has an anticancer effect on HCCs in an animal model in vivo with potentially less severe side effects than sorafenib. Therefore, further studies of DM's mechanism of action in HCC should be carried out. © 2021 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University