Protective role of Trianthema portulacastrum against diethylnitrosoamine-induced experimental hepatocarcinogenesis

The chemopreventive efficacy of the Indian medicinal plant Trianthema portulacastrum L. Aizoaceae was tested in a chemical rat hepatocarcinogenesis model in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by the potent carcinogen diethylnitrosoamine (DENA). Treatment of the rats to the basal medium with aqueous, ethanolic and chloroform fractions of the plant extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight once daily reduced the incidence, numerical preponderance, multiplicity and size distribution of visible neoplastic nodules. Morphometric evaluation of focal lesions showed a reduction of altered liver cell foci/cm2 and a reduction of the average focal area. A decrease in the percentage of liver parenchyma occupied by foci seems to suggest the anticarcinogenic potential of the plant extract in DENA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.