Abstract

A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF RUELLIA TUBEROSA L. (WHOLE PLANT) TREATMENT ON TOTAL BODY AND ORGAN WEIGHT IN DEN INDUCED HEPATO CARCINOMA

B Arirudran, *Vijayalakshmi Krishnamurthy and A Saraswathy

Abstract

The present attempt is to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract of R.tuberosa against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced hepatocarcinoma (HCC) in wistar albino rats. The ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract of whole plant of R.tuberosa were prepared and analyzed for chemopreventive effect on DEN induced liver cancer in wistar albino rats. HCC is associated with pronounced symptoms of weight loss and tissue wasting. In cancer bearing animals, there was a sharp loss in body weight but treatment with ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract of R.tuberosa showed improvement. The ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract of R.tuberosa treated animals showed a steep increase in the body weight indicating their ability to restore the body weight when compared to the DEN induced animals. Ethanolic extract had better chemopreventive effect than ethyl acetate extract. Histopathological studies further proved its hepatoprotective activity. It indicates the counteractive property of the drug against DEN-induced HCC. This study suggests that R.tuberosa prevents hepatic cell damage, and protects the body against DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Keywords: Ruellia tuberosa, antioxidant activity, doxorubicin, chemoprevention, organ weight, liver cancer.