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Bhatia et al. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:9 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2018.04

Original Article Open Access

Lycopene treatment stalls the onset of
experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma:

a radioisotopic, physiological and biochemical

analysis

Nisha Bhatia , Baljinder Singh , Ashwani Koul 1
1
2
1 Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
2 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India.

Correspondence to: Prof. Ashwani Koul, Department of Biophysics, Basic Medical Sciences (BMS) Block II, South Campus, Sec-
25, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India. E-mail: drashwanikoul@yahoo.co.in; ashwanik@pu.ac.in

How to cite this article: Bhatia N, Singh B, Koul A. Lycopene treatment stalls the onset of experimentally induced hepatocellular
carcinoma: a radioisotopic, physiological and biochemical analysis. Hepatoma Res 2018;4:9. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-
5079.2018.04
Received: 24 Jan 2018 First Decision: 24 Feb 2018 Revised: 2 Mar 2018 Accepted: 19 Mar 2018 Published: 27 Mar 2018

Science Editor: Guang-Wen Cao Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Cai-Hong Wang

Abstract
Aim: The present study was aimed to determine the modulatory role of lycopene enriched tomato extract (LycT) during
initiation of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Female Balb/c mice were divided into 4 groups: control, NDEA (200 mg NDEA/kg b.wt, cumulative dose),
LycT (5 mg/kg b.wt, thrice a week) and LycT + NDEA. LycT administration was commenced 2 weeks prior to NDEA
administration in LycT + NDEA group.

Results: NDEA treatment caused histopathological alterations in hepatic tissue and was associated with enhanced serum
levels of inflammatory markers, i.e., tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-β. NDEA treatment also induced
functional alterations in liver as evident by slow 99m Tc-mebrofenin hepatic excretion. LycT administration to NDEA mice
showed improved hepatic functional status as demonstrated by normal 99m Tc-mebrofenin excretion. NDEA treatment
also caused alterations in the hematological parameters such as hemoglobin, red blood cells, platelets and total leucocyte
counts. A significant increase in plasma lipid peroxidation and decrease in reduced glutathione levels with alterations in
various enzymatic antioxidants were observed upon NDEA treatment. LycT pre-treatment aided in boosting the antioxidant
defense system and ameliorated the inflammatory and hematological alterations.

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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