Preprint / Version 1

In vivo anticancer effects of Momordica charantia seed fat on hepatocellular carcinoma in a rat model

Authors

  • KNK Ranasinghe aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • AD Premarathna aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • TAN Mahakapuge aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • KK Wijesundera aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • AT Ambagaspitiya aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • AP Jayasooriya bDepartment of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • SAM Kularatne cDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  • RPVJ Rajapakse aDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Keywords:

Anticancer effect, In vivo, Momordica charantia, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Rat

Abstract

Momordica charantia or bitter melon is a well-known vegetable with a number of therapeutic actions in Ayurvedic medicine. Alpha-eleostearic acid, a conjugated trienoic fatty acid present in bitter melon is proven to have anticancer properties. Crude seed oil from local bitter melon varieties could be an effective and economical anticancer therapy. Objective(s) The study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer effect of the crude oil from the seeds of Matale green variety of bitter melon on a hepatocellular carcinoma-induced rat model. Materials and methods Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was experimentally induced in Wistar rats. Crude seed oil of Matale green bitter melon (MGBM) was supplemented to one treatment group in concurrence with carcinoma induction and to another treatment group after the development of carcinoma. After 168 days, gross morphological, histopathological, biochemical, hematological and gene-expression analysis of treated and control groups were performed. Results Oral supplementation of MGBM seed oil showed a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the average number, diameter and area of hepatic dysplastic nodules and a reduction in the size of histopathological neoplastic lesions in both treatment groups compared to the non-treated control group. The expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 and anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 were significantly increased while the expression of apoptotic gene caspase 3 was significantly reduced in the treatment group when MGBM supplementation was in concurrence with carcinogenesis (p < 0.05). Conclusion Crude seed oil from the MGBM has anticancer effects against experimentally induced HCC in Wistar rats, specially when supplemented in concurrence with carcinoma induction. Keywords: Anticancer effect, In vivo, Momordica charantia, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Rat

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