Indian medicinal plant Acanthus ilicifolius may combat liver cancer

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Public release date: 16-Jan-2008

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/wjog-imp011608.php

Contact: Jing Zhu

wjg@...

0086-

World Journal of Gastroenterology

Indian medicinal plant Acanthus ilicifolius may combat liver cancer

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world with a poor

prognosis. About three quarters of the cases of liver cancer are found

in Southeast Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, India, and

Japan. The frequency of liver cancer in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan

Africa is greater than 20 cases per 100,000 population. Moreover, recent

data show the frequency of liver cancer in the U.S. overall is rising.

With the increasing trend in the incidence of cancers in our country,

biomedical research directed at early detection and diagnosis, prognosis

and survival, as well as prevention of progression of malignancy, is of

prime importance. The aim of cancer chemoprevention is to circumvent the

development and progression of malignant cells through the use of

non-cytotoxic nutrients, herbal preparations/natural plant products,

and/or pharmacological agents. Encouraging dietary intake with herbal

supplements may therefore be an effective strategy to limit DNA lesions

and organic injuries leading to cancers and other chronic degenerative

diseases. A research article published in the December 28 issue of the

World Journal of Gastroenterology explores this point.

A research article published on December 28, 2007 in the World Journal

of Gastroenterology (volume 13, issue 48) addresses this problem. The

research team led by Prof. Malay Chatterjee from Jadavpur University

investigated the primary chemopreventive mechanisms of Acanthus

ilicifolius in an in vivo tumor-transplanted murine model. A.

ilicifolius, popularly known as ¡°Harkach Kanta¡± is distributed widely

throughout the mangroves of India, including Sunderbans in West Bengal,

west coasts, and the Andamans, and in other Asian countries like

Singhal, Burma, China, Thailand etc.

The results showed the aqueous leaf extract (ALE) of the plant was

substantially effective in preventing hepatic DNA alterations and

sister-chromatid exchanges (a type of chromosomal damage) in

tumor-bearing mice. The study further demonstrated that ALE treatment

was able to limit liver metallothionein expression, a potential marker

for cell proliferation, and lengthen the mean survival of animals to a

significant extent. The findings suggest that A. ilicifolius may be used

as a potential chemoprotector against hepatic neoplasia.

This research from Prof. Chatterjee¡¯s laboratory opens up a promising

avenue in cancer chemoprevention with the use of indigenous plants. The

results obtained from this in vivo study seem interesting and

encouraging. Lack of toxicity favors further preclinical evaluation of

A. ilicifolius in a defined chemical carcinogenesis model. Elucidation

of its anticarcinogenic mechanisms of action at the intricate molecular

circuits, and isolation and characterization of its active principles,

will provide a better understanding of the anti-cancer/chemoprevention

strategy of A. ilicifolius. If these studies are found to be really

functional, we will have the beginning of a new chemoprevention program

with herbal supplements that could have the broadest implications for

the well-being of society.

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6.1 Reference: Chakraborty T, Bhuniya D, Chatterjee M, Rahaman M, Singha

D, Chatterjee BN, Datta S, Rana A, Samanta K, Srivastawa S, Maitra SK,

Chatterjee M. Acanthus ilicifolius plant extract prevents DNA

alterations in a transplantable Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing murine

model. World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13(48): 6538-6548

http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/13/6538.asp

6.2 Correspondence to: Professor Malay Chatterjee, Ph.D. D.Sc., Chemical

Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Laboratory, Division of Biochemistry,

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, P.O.

Box-17028, Calcutta 700032, India. mcbiochem@...

Telephone: +91-33-24146393 Fax: +91-33-24146393

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