Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Fenugreek Seed Aqueous Extract and Diosgenin in Chemically Induced Liver Carcinoma in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer. It is one of the most frequent primary cancers at which its incidence rate has been increased to become the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths.The development of cancer is a multistep and multiphase process.Chronic hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in the HCC pathogenesis.Cancer chemoprotection is based on the use of exogenous agents, mostly phytochemicals, to enhance endogenous mechanisms against various stages of cancer development.

Many countries used fenugreek asa traditional dietary element. As a medicinal herb, fenugreek has proven activity against hepatotoxicity.The present study aimed toevaluate the antihepatocarcinogenesis activity of fenugreek seed aqueous extract (FSAE, 6 g/kg body weight, orally and daily for 14 weeks) and the diosgenin (DIOS,a steroidal saponin of fenugreek seeds, 36 mg/kg body weight, orally and daily for14 weeks) in presence/absence of a chemotherapy on HCC rats model. The HCC rat model was induced by one intraperitoneal injection every 2 weeks ofdiethylnitrosamine (DEN, 100 mg/kg body weight) for 14 consecutive weeks. Cyclophosphamide (CP, 20 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection, twice/week for 6 consecutive weeks starting from the 9th week) was used as chemotherapy in this study.Moreover, the present study examined any harmful and toxic effects caused by consumption of the FSAE and DIOS in healthy rats.