Effect of tocotrienols on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene in rats

W. Z.W. Ngah, Z. Jarien, M. M. San, A. Marzuki, G. M. Top, N. A. Shamaan, K. A. Kadir

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Abstract

The effects of tocotrienols on hepatocarcinogenesis in rats fed with 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) were followed morphologically and histologically for a period of 20 wk. No differences between treated and control rats in the morphology and histology of their livers was observed. Cell damage was extensive in the livers of AAF-treated rats but less extensive in the AAF-tocotrienols-treated rats when compared with normal and tocotrienols-treated rats. 2-Acetylaminofluorene significantly increases the activities of both plasma and liver microsomal γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT). Tocotrienols administered together with AAF significantly decrease the activities of plasma GGT after 12 and 20 wk (P < 0.01, P < 0.002, respectively) and liver microsomal UDP-GT after 20 wk (P < 0.02) when compared with the controls and with rats treated only with tocotrienols. Liver microsomal GGT also showed a similar pattern to liver microsomal UDP-GT but the decrease was not significant. These results suggest that tocotrienols administered to AAF-treated rats reduce the severity of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1076S-1081S
Number of pages6
JournalThe American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume53
Issue number4 SUPPL.
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 2-Acetylaminofluorene
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Tocotrienols
  • UDP-glucuronyltransferase
  • Vitamin E
  • γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase

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