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Abdel-Hamid et al. Antitumor and chemosesitizing efficacy of Kochia indica on human HCC

INTRODUCTION with proposed molecular formula C H Cl O ,
6
4
13
14
molecular weight 447 and chemical structure,
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common 1-phenyl 2,3,4,5,6 hexachloro 2,3,4,5 tetra hydroxy
primary liver malignancy and the sixth most common heptane.
cancer worldwide. Also, It is an aggressive malignancy
[1]
with a poor prognosis and is currently the second most Previous investigators showed that Kochia indica has
common cause of cancer-related mortality. It was a great medicinal potency. It is used as a heart tonic
[2]
found that about 80% of the estimated new cases agent and it has a strong tumoricidal properties.
[9]
[8]
of HCC occurred in less developed regions and its Additionally, resinous alkaloid, isolated from alcoholic
incidence is increasing worldwide in more developed extract of the plant showed nicotinic action on
countries including Egypt because of predominant autonomic ganglia and neuromuscular junctions of
[3]
diseases such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and voluntary muscles. Fruits and leaves of a related
schistosomiasis. [4] species, Kochiascoparia is used as cardiac tonic, anti-
dermatitis and diuretic agent. [10]
It was recognized that the resistance to chemotherapy,
5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is a major obstacle in the Also, ether extract of aerial parts of Kochia contains
treatment of HCC, necessitating the discovery of n-alkanes, free alcohols and amixture of sterols,
additional agents. Thus, the use of natural products mainly sitosterol (70.9%). Ether plant extract exhibited
[5]
in this respect is extensively under investigation. antibacterial activity which is attributed to hydrocarbons
[6]
One of these products is Kochia indica, family and sterols present in its parts.
chenopodiaceae [Figure 1]. It was originally introduced
as an ornamental plant in some gardens. In the present As known, one of the excellent chemotherapeutic
time, it has spread and is now presented in both crop drugs is 5-FU. Despite the excellent therapeutic
and no crop areas. [7] effects of 5-FU, its cytotoxicity and genotoxicity
in normal cells remain a major health problem. [11]
The elementary analysis of Kochia indica extract was Therefore, thinking about herbal use is gradually
previously carried out by Haroun using ultraviolet growing worldwide to reduce the hepatotoxicity
[8]
(UV) spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, gas induced by 5-FU treatment. The present work was
chromatography and mass spectrophotometery. As undertaken to test whether Kochia indica extract can
shown in Figure 2, the chemical analysis of Kochia exhibit antitumor effect by itself and can improve the
indica extract detects an active phenolic compound antitumor efficacy of 5-FU treatment by reducing its
probable side effects.

METHODS

Chemicals, cultures and reagents
The anti-cancer 5-FU obtained as an ampoule (10 mL)
contains 250 mg of fluorouracil was stored below
30 ºC, protected from light and preserved in sealed
containers. It is manufactured by ACDIMA International
(AiT, S.X. Haipu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.).

To prepare the standard anticancer treatment regimen
of 5-FU, it was diluted with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle
Figure 1: A photograph showing Kochia indica whole plant medium (DMEM) to desired concentrations ranging
from 10 to 250 μg/mL. The final concentration of
dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in each cell culture did
not exceed 1% v/v, to keep the cytotoxicity of DMSO
at less than 10%. However, fluorouracil (25 mg/mL)
stock solution was 100 fold diluted (10 mL + 990 mL
medium) then it was mixed with the Kochia indica
extract in various ratios, and each combination ratio
was 2 fold serially diluted. The concentration of each
agent in the combination was determined according to
Figure 2: Phenolic active compound of Kochia indica plant extract [8] the following equation:
150 Hepatoma Research ¦ Volume 3 ¦ July 21, 2017