ENZIMATICALLY MODIFIED QUERCETIN PREVENTS FIBROSIS PROGRESSION IN CHEMICALLY INDUCED LIVER CANCER IN WISTAR RATS

Introduction and Objectives

The hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anticancer properties of quercetin cannot easily be used for therapeutic purposes, because of its poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, low bioavailability, and enzymatic degradation. However, quercetin derivatives may surpass its therapeutic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of enzymatically modified quercetin (dQC-Caf) in an in vivo model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials and Methods

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided in groups: Control, HCC, dQC-Caf, and HCC+dQC-Caf. HCC was induced for 13 weeks by weekly administration of 50 mg/kg i.p. diethylnitrosamine and 25 mg/kg i.g N-2-fluorenylacetamide. dQC-Caf was administered twice weekly (20 mg/kg i.g.). Tumors development, serum biochemistry, and liver histology were evaluated. Data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism 10 (p< 0.05). The protocol was approved by UDG Committees (Code CI-05023). The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Results

Compared to the HCC group, macroscopic tumors were noticeably reduced in the HCC+dQC-Caf group, despite liver inflammation. In this group, ALT, AST/ALT, ALKP, total bilirubin, cholesterol, and HDL-C levels tended to improve compared with the HCC group. AST levels were significantly increased in the latter group, but not in the HCC+dQC-Caf group. Altered hepatocytes were found among both damaged groups; however, severe hepatic fibrosis developed in the HCC group, whereas there was no collagen accumulation in the HCC+dQC-Caf group.

Conclusions

Administration of dQC-Caf improved the results of liver function tests and reduced the development of liver fibrosis and macroscopic tumors induced by the damage treatment.

Conflict of interest: None

Modified quercetin effects of chemically induced liver cancer in Wistar rats