Chemopreventive effect of Bauhinia purpurea against chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis via amelioration of oxidative damage, cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in Wistar rats

Objectives: In the present study we have evaluated the chemopreventive efficacy of Bauhinia purpurea against Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiated and 2 Acetylaminofluorine (2-AAF) promoted hepatocarcinogenesis in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Efficacy of Bauhinia purpurea against 2-AAF-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in terms of biochemical estimation of antioxidant enzyme activities (reduced hepatic GSH, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and quinone reductase), histopathological changes and expressions of early tumor markers viz., ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and also expressions of p53, Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 were evaluated. Results: Oral pretreatment with B. purpurea significantly decreased the levels of serum toxicity markers, elevated antioxidant defense enzyme activities, s uppressed the expression of ODC and PCNA and P53 along with the induction of apoptosis in the pretreatment groups. Tumor incidences are reduced by pretreatment of B. purpurea. Histopathological findings revealed that B. purpurea-pretreated groups showed marked recovery. Conclusion: The results support the protective effect of B. purpurea against chemically induced liver cancer and acts possibily by virtue of its antioxidant, antiproliferative, and apoptotic activities.