Inhibition of N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by Picroliv

Picroliv, an iridoid glycoside mixture prepared from the roots and rhizomes of Picrorhiza kurroa was found to be an effective inhibitor of hepatarcino genesis induced by N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in rats. Animals administer ed with NDEA had large hepatic nodules and the liver weight was increased t o 6.17 +/- 1.0 g/100 g.b.wt. as compared to the normal liver weight 2.84 +/ - 0.08 g/100 g b.wt. Picroliv administration (200 mg/ Kg.b.wt) reduced the liver weight to 3.30 +/-0.23 g/100 g. b. wt. Oral administration of Picroli v reduced NDEA-induced elevation of gamma -glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma -G T) in serum and liver to that of normal rats. Moreover, elevated levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamatepyruvate transaminase (GPT) and serum peroxides were also found to be significantly reduced by Picroli v administration. Similar observations were noticed in glutathione (GSH) an d glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels. Histopathological analysis of the Picroliv treated rat liver resembles that of a normal liver except for a f ew alterations such as hepatocytomegalia and karyomegalia in some focii. Th e results are indicative of the chemopreventive potential of Picroliv again st chemically-induced liver tumours.