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Hassan et al. Potential antioxidant activity of cape gooseberry against HCC

with DENA plus CCl induced a significant increase in tumor marker level, alpha-fetoprotein
4
level, and liver function enzymes activity as well as elevated levels of malondialdehyde. This
suggests oxidative stress accompanied with a significant decrease in antioxidant biomarkers
including glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the
examined tissues. However, the administration of GGJ could reduce these changes to control
levels. Conclusion: CGJ is a promising candidate as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant
processor in an HCC rats model. This beneficial effect was achieved by antagonizing free
radicals generation and the enhancement of the antioxidant defense mechanisms, resulting in
marked improvement of hepatic biomarkers.

INTRODUCTION also has excellent potential as a food-based strategy
for anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive products. [20]
Oxygen radical generation and lipid peroxidation Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate
have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various the antioxidant properties of cape gooseberry juice
diseases and the toxic action of a wide range of as a potential source of natural functional substances
[1]
compounds. Involvement of free radicals, generation against lipid peroxidation and scavenging capacities
of oxygen radicals and enhancement of lipid towards free radicals in different tissues of experimental
peroxidation have been shown to play an important HCC rats model.
role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). [2,3] Amelioration
of the deleterious effects of oxidative stress associated METHODS
with HCC using synthetic compounds causes
undesirable side effects. Therefore, natural agents Chemicals
could be the most prudent strategy and the most Diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and carbon tetra chloride
effective agents for protecting humans from various (CCl 4 ) were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co.
diseases. [4,5] Furthermore, there is the growing (St. Louis, MO, USA). DENA was freshly dissolved in
popularity of natural functional food ingredients that sterile 0.9% saline and given to rats at a single dose
are believed to be safer, healthier and less subject to of 200 mg/kg b.w. [21] CCl 4 was given to rats at a dose
hazards than their artificial counterparts. [6,7] of 3 mL/kg b.w. per week. [22,23]

One of the most important natural diets with anti- Animals
oxidant properties is berries, among the most widely Healthy male albino rats (Rattus rattus), 8 weeks
consumed fruits in the human diet. Berry fruits, wild old (150-170 g) were purchased from Institute of
or cultivated, are proven as a traditional and rich Ophthalmic Disease Research, Cairo, Egypt. Rats
source of bioactive compounds, possessing important were housed in cages at regulated temperature (22-
biological substances such as flavonoids minerals, 25 °C). They were kept under good ventilation under
vitamins, and phenolic acids. [8,9] One key berry fruit is, a photoperiod of 12-h light/12-h darkness schedule
cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), a herbaceous with lights-on from 06:00 to 18:00. They all received a
plant which belongs to the Solanaceae family. Its fruit standard laboratory diet (60% ground corn meal, 10%
is also known as golden berry, ground cherry and in bran, 15% ground beans, 10% corn oil, 3% casein, 1%
Egypt, harankash. The fruit of the cape gooseberry is mineral mixture and 1% vitamins mixture), purchased
highly nutritious, containg high levels of macronutrients from Meladco Feed Company (Aubor City, Cairo,
and essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, Egypt) and supplied with water ad libitum throughout
potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, as well as the experimental period. Animals received humane
micronutrients such as iron and zince; [10,11] the fruit also care and the present study complies with the animal
containsvitamins A, B and C, in addition to β-carotene, care guidelines. The local committee approved the
α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin. In addition, the fruit design of the experiments, and the protocol conforms to
contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. linoleic the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
acid andoleic acid). These bioactive compounds
have nutritional value, medicinal properties, and an Hepatocellular rats model
antioxidant property that can prevent peroxidative Experimental hepatocellular carcinoma rats were
damage of liver cells. [12-14] Cape gooseberry extracts subjected by a single intraperitoneal injection of
show antioxidant activity, [15,16] anti-inflammatory freshly prepared DENA (200 mg/kg body weight), then
activity, [17,18] and anti-hepatotoxic [18] and anti- 2 weeks later received a subcutaneous injection of
proliferative effects on hepatoma cells. [19] This fruit CCl 4 once every week (3 mL/kg b.w.) for 10 weeks to
28 Hepatoma Research ¦ Volume 3 ¦ February 28, 2017