Ameliorative effects of Turbinaria ornata extract on hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in-vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Brown algae appeared to be a rich source of efficient and safe agents against many life-threatening diseases like cancer. Thus, the scope of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of Turbinaria ornata against experimentally induced HCC in a rat model. Accordingly, forty male albino rats were divided into four groups. HCC was induced by intraperitoneal injection with diethylnitrosamine (DENA) followed by carbon tetrachloride (CCL 4 ). After four weeks of DENA + CCL 4 injection and two weeks of treatment with Turbinaria ornata , rats were sacrificed to collect hepatic tissue and blood samples for histopathological observations and various biochemical markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), urea, creatinine, albumin (ALB), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Rats that were injected for four weeks with DENA + CCL 4 showed a significant increase in AFP levels, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as a high percentage of malignant changes in hepatic tissues. The extension of malignant changes in the rat liver tissues was markedly reduced using Turbinaria ornata , as the treatment displayed liver patterns similar to that of the normal control rats. Furthermore, rats with HCC fed with Turbinaria ornata extract for two weeks showed decreasing levels of TGF-β and TNF-α. These findings demonstrate that Turbinaria ornata supplement can prevent HCC development in hepatic rats; however, the exact mechanism requires further investigation.