Blueberry treatment attenuated cirrhotic and preneoplastic lesions and oxidative stress in the liver of diethylnitrosamine-treated rats

Abstract

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer normally develops in stages that progress from cirrhosis and carcinoma. Increased oxidative stress is suggested to play a role in DEN-induced carcinogenicity. Blueberries (BB) contain high antioxidant capacity. We investigated the effect of BB supplementation on development of DEN-induced cirrhosis and neoplastic lesions in the liver. Rats were injected with DEN (200 mg/kg; i.p.) three times with an interval of 15 days at 4, 6, and 8 weeks and sacrificed 8 weeks after the last DEN injection. They were also fed on 8% BB (w/w) containing chow for 16 weeks. Hepatic damage markers in serum were determined together with hepatic histopathological examinations. Hydroxyproline (HYP), malondialdehyde (MDA), diene conjugate (DC), protein carbonyl (PC), and glutathione (GSH) levels, and CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, and their mRNA expressions were measured. Protein and mRNA expressions of glutathione transferase-pi (GST-pi) were evaluated as a marker of preneoplastic lesions. BB supplementation decreased hepatic damage markers in serum and hepatic MDA, DC, and PC levels, but SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities and their mRNA expressions remained unchanged in DEN-treated rats. BB attenuated cirrhotic changes and decreased hepatic HYP levels and GST-pi expressions. Our results indicate that BB is effective in decreasing development of DEN-induced hepatic cirrhosis and preneoplastic lesions by acting as an antioxidant (radical scavenger) itself without affecting activities and mRNA expressions of antioxidant enzymes.

Blueberry Attenuates Liver Fibrosis, Protects Intestinal Epithelial Barrier, and Maintains Gut Microbiota Homeostasis

“…The administration of CCl 4 increased liver weight, and treatment with BB prevented CCl 4 -induced liver weight gain ( p < 0.05) (Figure 1(b)). A significant increase in the serum activities of ALT and AST, two reliable indicators of liver injury [21], is evidence of hepatocellular damage. Treatment with CCl 4 indeed contributed to a significant increase in serum ALT and AST.…”

“…Blueberries may also have anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects [16, 17]. Recently, BB has been found to be a potential candidate for the treatment of liver fibrosis [18–21]. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.…”

Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract treatment attenuated preneoplastic lesions and oxidative stress in the livers of diethylnitrosamine‐treated rats

“…Rac1, a small GTPase associated with cytoskeletal dynamics, is necessary for the migration of many cancer cell lines and DEN‐stimulated hepatocarcinogenesis . Furthermore, Rac1 is also a known effector of PKCα in mammary epithelial cells . Its mechanism may be through the phosphorylation of PKCα that is involved in the dissociation of RhoA or Rac1 from RhoGDI1/2 .…”

Identification of the Components in a Vaccinium oldhamii Extract Showing Inhibitory Activity against Influenza Virus Adsorption

“…It is reported to promote the recovery of sight in the dark [1] and possess protective effects in retinal pigment and corneal epithelial cells [2,3]. Blueberries contain a large amount of various polyphenols, such as anthocyanin, which are thought to be a source of antioxidants for the removal of reactive oxygen species in the body [4,5], and are reported to suppress oxidative stress and cirrhosis of the liver [6]. However, little is known about the antiviral activities of blueberries.…”