The Beneficial Use of Melanin in Inhibiting and Treating HCC Through Preventing CBC, Liver Enzymes, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Peroxidation Alterations

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 90% of primary liver cancers and is a major global health problem. The present application relates to normalizing abnormal levels of hematological blood parameters, oxidative stress indicators, and liver enzyme levels in the rats using melanin, and particularly, to treating their abnormal levels, in addition to evaluate the role of melanin during and after the progression of HCC, which will be supplemented histologically. Hematological blood parameters such as white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and platelets (PLTs); liver enzymes such as alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST); oxidative stress such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD); LP malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated in all groups of rats. Injection of Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetyaminofluorine (2-AFF) induced HCC in the rats accompanied with a significant reduction in WBCs, RBCs, HGB, HCT, and PLTs, GSH-PX, and SOD; while a significant elevation was observed in ALT and AST, and MDA compared to the control. Melanin normalized all the above mentioned parameters during and after the progression of cancer towards their control values. These results demonstrate the beneficial use of melanin as a powerful antioxidant tool in inhibiting and treating HCC in the rats.</jats:p>