Inhibitory effect of ellagic acid on N-2-fluorenylacetamide-induced liver carcinogenesis in male ACI/N rats.

The effect of ellagic acid (EA) on the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA) was investigated in male ACI/N rats. Rats were fed diet containing 200 ppm FAA and 400 ppm EA for 16 weeks, and diet containing 400 ppm EA alone was fed to the animals for one week before FAA exposure and one week after the carcinogen treatment. Animals were killed at intervals up to 20 weeks after cessation of the carcinogen. Liver altered foci and neoplasms were quantified using gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase reaction as well as conventional staining for identification. Exposure to FAA alone induced a substantial number of altered foci and at the end of experiment (week 36), the incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms was 100%. In the group receiving EA together with FAA, the number of altered foci was decreased at all time points and at termination, the final incidence of hepatocellular neoplasms (30%) was also reduced. Thus, EA inhibited the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by FAA when it was administered concurrently with the carcinogen.