Objective: Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr. extract (EPE) containing isoliquiritigenin and oxyresveratrol is believed to be an anticancer agent. This study evaluates colon histopathology, TNF-α, TGF-β, and hepatotoxicity on BALB/c mice colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) model treated with EPE. Methods: In vivo study was performed on BALB/c mice CAC model induced by 10 mg/kgBW AOM on the first day followed by administration that each cycle consisted of 5% DSS in water for seven days and regular water for seven days. The indicators of the formation of CAC were observed by a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and serum amyloid α (SAA) test. The treatment was conducted once a week started from the seventh week up to the twentieth week with six treatment groups: I was administrated by regular water only (negative control), II was administrated by AOM and DSS only (positive control), III was administrated by doxorubicin, IV-VI were treated by EPE (0.25 mg/kg BW, 0.50 mg/kg BW, and 1.00 mg/kg BW) respectively. The colon and liver’s histopathology was observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, TNF-α with immunohistochemistry (IHC), and level measurement of TGF-β colon with ELISA reader. The data were used one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc as statistical analysis. Results: The administration of EPE increased the expression of TNF-α, the total of goblet cells of the colon, and decreased the level of TGF-β. Administration of EPE 0.50 mg/20g BW decreased a liver histopathological score but induced a histopathological alteration of the liver at a dose of 1.00 mg/20g BW. Conclusion: This study indicate that EPE could be recommended as a colon anticancer through increase the goblet cells, induce apoptosis through increase TNF-α, and decrease TGF-β.

It is known that Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr contains flavonoid and polyphenol as bioactive compounds that have the ability as chemopreventive agents. This study aims to examine the effect of Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr extract (EPE) on colon histopathology and the enhancement of caspase-3 expression in BALB/c mice of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) model. Thirty Balb/c female mice were used in this study and were divided into six groups. Five mice in one group were normal or negative control (given phosphate-buffered saline), and twenty-five mice were induced intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg BW AOM (Azoxymethane), and it was followed by the administration of 5% DSS (Dextran Sodium Sulfate) every two weeks for 20 weeks. At the sixth week, one mice in each group was sacrificed for the Fecal Occult Bold Test (FOBT) and serum amyloid α (SAA) test to ensure that CAC was indeed formed. The administration of EPE with varying doses was started from the eighth week and was continued until the 21st week. The length of the colonic crypt was measured through histology appearance using Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining while the immunohistochemical method was used to observe apoptotic activity through the enhancement of caspase-3 expression. The results showed that the increase in EPE dosage also increased the crypt colon length compared to the positive control group. The administration of 1.00 mg/20gBW EPE significantly increased cell apoptosis which can be observed through caspase-3 expression compared to the positive control group (p<0.05). Based on these data, the extract of EPE can be developed as phytotherapy for chemopreventive.