Research Articles

2019  |  Vol: 5(3)  |  Issue: 3 (May- June)  |  https://doi.org/10.31024/ajpp.2019.5.3.19

Effect of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) on membrane-bound ATPases against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced and phenobarbital (PB) promoted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats

Bhrigu Kumar Das, Basavaraj C. Koti, Santosh B. Patil, Pramod C. Gadad^*

Department of Pharmacology, KLE College of Pharmacy, Hubli, Karnataka, India 580031

*Address for Correspondence:                                                    

Dr. Pramod C. Gadad

Department of Pharmacology, KLE College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Hubli, Karnataka, India (580031)

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) on membrane-bound ATPases in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced and phenobarbital (PB) promoted hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Materials and Methods: The hepatocarcinogenesis was initiated with a single dose in male wistar albino rats (n=6) by DEN (200 mg/kg, i.p.). Two weeks later 0.05% w/v of phenobarbital (PB) was administered through drinking water for 16 weeks. The treatment group rats (n=6) received a similar dosage as above along with enzymatic extract of L. esculentum (250 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) from week three onwards. The effects of L. esculentum on membrane-bound ATPases (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, and Ca²⁺-ATPase) activity in liver tissue were determined. Estimation of the serum electrolytes such as sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), magnesium (Mg⁺⁺), and calcium (Ca⁺⁺) were also assessed in the serum at the end of experimental period, along with morphological analysis and histopathological studies. Results: In our study, DEN/PB treated rats had significantly (p< 0.001) decreased activities of membrane-bound ATPases (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, and Ca²⁺-ATPase) in liver tissue. Oral administration with the enzymatic extract of L. esculentum to rats resulted in significant (p< 0.001; p< 0.01) reversal of these enzymes activities to near normal in liver tissue when compared with DEN/PB treated rats. It also significantly alters the levels of serum electrolytes (p< 0.001; p< 0.01) to near normal for the treatment group (L. esculentum) compared to DEN/PB. Treatment with the extract of L. esculentum normalized the histological architecture as found to be disrupted in DEN/PB group. Conclusion: The present study suggests that administration of L. esculentum has the potential to restore deranged activity of membrane-bound ATPases against DEN induced and PB promoted liver cancer.

Keywords: Lycopersicon esculentum, membrane-bound ATPases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)