Anthocyanin-rich black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) extract affords chemoprevention against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats.

Anthocyanin-rich black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) extract affords chemoprevention against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats.

Bishayee Anupam; Mbimba Thomas; Thoppil Roslin J; Haznagy-Radnai Erzsebet; Sipos Peter; Darvesh Altaf S; Folkesson Hans G; Hohmann Judit

The Journal of nutritional biochemistry

2011

2011-11

Anthocyanins are known to possess potent anticarcinogenic properties against several cancers thus demonstrating potential for cancer prevention. Black currant (Ribes nigrum L., Grossulariaceae) fruits have a high anthocyanin content. This "superfruit" is known to possess various pharmacological effects including alleviation of chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. In contrast to a large volume of literature on the health benefits of black currant, limited evidence on antitumor effects of black currant exists with virtually no data on the prevention of experimental carcinogenesis. In the current study, we have investigated the chemopreventive effects of an anthocyanin-rich black currant skin extract (BCSE) utilizing our well-characterized model of rat liver carcinogenesis. Initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis was done by intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) followed by promotion with phenobarbital. The rats were exposed to dietary BCSE for 4 weeks prior to initiation, and the treatment was continued for 22 consecutive weeks. BCSE dose-dependently decreased the incidence, total number, multiplicity, size and volume of preneoplastic hepatic nodules. The antihepatocarcinogenic effect of BCSE was confirmed by histopathological examination of liver sections. Immunohistochemical analysis of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and DNA fragmentation revealed BCSE-mediated inhibition of abnormal cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in

Animals; Anthocyanins/*therapeutic use; Anticarcinogenic Agents/therapeutic use; Apoptosis/drug effects; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism; Cell Proliferation/drug effects; Chemoprevention; Diethylnitrosamine; Down-Regulation; Experimental/metabolism/pathology; Liver Neoplasms; Liver Neoplasms/chemically induced/*prevention & control; Liver/pathology; Male; Phenobarbital; Plant Extracts/*therapeutic use; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism; Rats; Ribes/chemistry; Sprague-Dawley; Up-Regulation

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