Phyllanthus amarus extract administration increases the life span of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma

The effect of Phyllanthus amar us extract administration after induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) was studied in Wistar rats. Administration of an aqueous extract of P. amarus was found to significantly increase the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma harboring animals. All the untreated rats died of tumour burden by 33.7 +/- 1.6 weeks. Administration of P. amarus extract (150 mg/kg b.w.) after tumour development increased the survival of animals to an average of 52.2 +/- 2.3 weeks. Serum gamma -glutamyl transpeptidase activity which was elevated to 182 +/- 23 U/l by NDEA administration was lowered to 112 +/- 19 U/l by the administration of P. amarus extract. Similarly elevated glutathione S-transferase activity (1534 +/- 116 nmol/min per mg protein) and glutathione (20.5 +/- 2.4 nmol/mg protein) levels in the NDEA administered group were found to be lowered to 1112 +/- 89 nmol/min per mg protein and 14.2 +/- 2.2 nmol/mg protein respectively. P. amarus administration was found to be ineffective in controlling the liver weight, elevation of tissue gamma -glutamyl transpeptidase: serum alkaline phosphatase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase of HCC harboring animals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.