Preventive effect of Ganfujian granule on experimental hepatocarcinoma in rats

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory effect of dietary and medicinal formula Ganfujian granule on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinoma in rats. Methods: Male SD rats had free access to water containing 0.1 g/L DEN for 16 weeks, during which the rats fed with standard diet or administration of Ganfujian granule (30.4 g/Kg in diet). At weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 of hepatocarcinogenesis 5 rats of each group were sacrificed, and at week 20 another 30 rats were sacrificed from each group. The end point for survival observation was at week 28.Immunochemistry methods were used to examine the effect of Ganfujian granule on the process of hepatocarcinogenesis including proliferation of hepatocytes and cell cycle modulation. Results: Ganfujian granule could reduce and delay the incidence of hepatocarcinoma in rats and prolong the survival of animals. In addition, Ganfujian granule had a marked inhibitory effect on high expression of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK4) during the whole process of hepatocarcinogenesis and cyclin D1 at week 16 and the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells in different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. Conclusion: Ganfujian granule can reduce and delay the incidence of hepatocarcinoma in rats by exerting direct or indirect effects on cell cycle and inhibiting uncontrolled proliferation of hepatocytes. Copyright © 2004 by The WJG Press.