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.