Abstract. Resveratrol, a phytochemical compound abundant in red wine and grapes, is known to affect cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. A great amount of data have indicated the therapeutic benefits of resveratrol against cancer. However, it remains unclear whether these benefits are similar and equally effective in both the early and advanced stages of cancer or carcinogenesis. In this study, we report the effects of resveratrol in the early and advanced stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in a model of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of male Wistar rats. For the experiment, rats were divided into different groups and treated with resveratrol either from day 1 of DEN administration for 15 days (pre-HCC), or after the development of HCC, i.e., 15-16 weeks after DEN administration (post-HCC), and compared to untreated HCC-bearing rats. Biochemical analysis of α-fetoprotein, the known serum marker for HCC, and other serum and liver marker enzymes also demonstrated a decreased level upon resveratrol treatment compared to the untreated HCC-bearing rats. H&E staining of tissue sections from the liver showed alteration or transformation of liver parenchymatous tissue in DEN-induced HCC (at 15-16 weeks). Resveratrol treatment during early (on day 1 of DEN-induction) and advanced (weeks 17-18) HCC showed a marked difference in the tissue architecture compared to untreated HCC. Immunoblot analysis revealed that resveratrol intervention at both the early and advanced stages of DEN-induced HCC activated the apoptotic markers, such as PARP cleavage, caspase-3 activation, p53 up-regulation and cytochrome-c release. In addition, semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated the up-and downregulation of key apoptotic regulators, such as Bax and Bcl 2 , respectively, in a resveratrol treatment-dependent manner. Our results indicate that the administration of resveratrol either at the early or advanced stages of hepatocarcinogenesis is equally effective and involves the activation of the apoptotic pathway in male Wistar rats.

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Context: Sulforaphane (SFN) [1-isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)butane] is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli [Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck. (Brassicaceae)]. Since it is among the most potent bioactive components with antioxidant and antitumor properties, it has received intense attention in the recent years for its chemopreventive properties. Objective: The present work determined the rehabilitating role in alleviating the oxidative damage caused by benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] to biomolecules and the apoptotic cascade mediated by orally administered isothiocyanate-SFN (9 mmol/mouse/day) against B(a)P (100 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) induced pulmonary carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice. Materials and methods: Oxidative damage was assessed by measuring lipid peroxidation, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) production, glycoprotein components, protein carbonyl levels and DNA-protein crosslinks. DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis and caspase-3 activity by ELISA proved apoptotic induction by SFN along with the protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Cyt c. Results: SFN treatment was found to decrease the H 2 O 2 production (p50.001) in cancer induced animals, proving its antioxidant potential. Apoptosis was induced by increasing the release of Cyt c (p50.001) from mitochondria, decreasing and increasing the expression of Bcl-2 (p50.01) and Bax (p50.001), respectively. Caspase-3 activity was also enhanced (p50.001) which leads to DNA fragmentation in SFN treated groups. Conclusion: Our results reflect the rehabilitating role of SFN in B(a)P induced lung carcinogenesis.

Gold has been used as antidepressants in Indian traditional medicine. Hypericum species are used as alternative to conventional medicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The present study focuses on synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Hypericum hookerianum and its antiparkinson like effect in haloperidol (1 mg kgG 1 ; ip) induced swiss albino mice. The synthesized AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy; energy dispersive X-ray spectrum and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The parkinson induced mice were treated with ethanolic extract of H. hookerianum (EEHH) (400 mg kgG 1 ) and H. hookerianum synthesized gold nanoparticles (HHGNps) (40 mg kgG 1 ). Behavioral analyses of mice were examined by rota rod test, gait analysis, wire hang test and their neurobiochemical analysis (dopamine and glutamate) by spectrofluorimetry. In this study, the haloperidol induced group showed depleted dopamine and increased glutamate levels, whereas treated groups exhibited significantly restored values. Among the extracts, EEHH showed well pronounced antiparkinson like effect due to its neuroprotective flavonoids and surprisingly HHGNps treated groups showed greater antiparkinson like effect. The green synthesis of AuNPs showed promising effects for the modern therapeutic era especially with regard to parkinson's disease.

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