VITAMIN-C AND ALOE-VERA SUPPLEMENTATION PROTECTS FROM CHEMICAL HEPATOCARCINOGENESIS IN THE RAT

The effects of vitamin C and aloe vera gel extract supplementation on induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley rats (120-150 g) b y diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) was investi gated. The severity of the carcinogenesis process was determined by me asuring gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and the placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GSTP) histochemically in situ and in plasma and liver fractions. In addition, plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) a nd liver microsomal uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) activity were also determined. Administration of DEN/AAF caused an in crease in the surface area and number of enzyme-positive foci (both GG T and GSTP) compared with control. Supplementation of vitamin C or alo e vera gel extract to the cancer-induced rats suppressed this increase significantly (P < 0.05: P < 0.001). Increases in Liver UDPGT, GGT, a nd GSTP activities were also observed with cancer induction that were again suppressed with either vitamin C or aloe vera gel supplementatio n. Plasma GGT in the DEN/AAF rats were determined monthly for the dura tion of the experiment and found to be reduced as early as I mo with a loe vera gel supplementation and 2 mo with vitamin C supplementation. Zn conclusion, vitamin C and aloe vera gel extract supplementation wer e found to be able to reduce the severity of chemical hepatocarcinogen esis. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1998.