Protective Effect of Indigofera Aspalathoides Roots on N-Nitrosodiethylamine-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in Mice

The chemopreventive effect of ethanol root extract of Indigofera aspalathoides was evaluated in N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced experimental liver tumor in mice. Pretreatment with ethanol root extract (100 mg/kg, p.o.) for three weeks significantly reduced the impact of N-nitrosodiethylamine toxicity (50 mg/kg, i.p.) on the serum markers of liver damage, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin. Protective effect was reconfirmed the elevated serum total protein levels were significantly restored towards normalization by the extracts, and this was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Histological examination of the liver of animals treated with ethanol root extract of Indigofera aspalathoides showed the reduction of necrosis. These results suggest that ethanol root extract of Indigofera aspalathoides possess protective effect against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis.