Chemo-herbal potentials of fractionalized extract of Mimosa pudica in cadmium-induced hepatocellular tumor with associated Alpha-fetoprotein and gamma-glutamyl transferase elevation

Abstract

The plant Mimosa pudica (M. pudica) has been reported by researchers as an anti-inflammatory herb, amongst other properties, but its use as an anticancer herb is still sketchy. This study was aimed at evaluating the n-hexane, butanol and aqueous fractions of M. pudica leaf extract as a chemo-herbal therapy in cadmium-induced hepatocellular tumor. Forty-five (n = 45) adult rats of Sprague Dawley strian were used for this research. The rats were randomly assigned into nine different clusters (groups A-I), of five rats of Sprague Dawley strain each; hepatocellular tumor was induced using 0.4 mg/ml cadmium administered through drinking water to groups B–I for 50 days. M. pudica fractionalized extracts were administered orally at the dose of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg to groups D and I for 14 days, respectively. Meanwhile, group C received 2.5mg/kg of Mesotheroxate (standard cancer drug) for 10 days. Histological slides for groups C-I showed a notable histomorhological improvement in liver tissue as well as markedly reduced degeneration when compared with the damage control group (group B). The AST, ALT, ALP, γGT and AFP levels in group B (285.30 ± 4.61 IU/l, 137.30 ± 12.72 IU/l, 424.70 ± 33.5 IU/l, 6.80 ± 0.26 IU/l and 1.82 ± 0.28 ng/ml, respectively) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group values (123.30 ± 5.81 IU/l, 85.33 ± 2.40 IU/l, 253.70 ± 4.91 IU/l, 0.96 ± 0.35 IU/l and 0.37 ± 0.05 ng/ml) and other treated groups. This study reveals that M. pudica demonstrated some prospective anti-carcinogenic activity. Hence, it could be used as a potential chemo-herbal therapy.

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