CURATIVE EFFECT OF TEA PLANT ROOT EXTRACT ON N-NITROSODIETHYLAMINE INDUCED LIVER CANCER IN SWISS ALBINO MICE AIM: Cancer

is the term used for a group of disorders caused by the abnormal and unrestricted growth of cells. Cancer can be best defined by four characteristics (clonality, autonomy, anaplasia, metastasis) which separate cancer cells from their normal counterparts. The primary objectives of cancer treatment are cure, prolongation of useful life and improvement of quality life. N-nitrosodiethylamine is a potent hepatocarcinogen which induces hepatocellular carcinoma in mice associated with lipid peroxidation. The therapeutic and nutritional values of tea could be attributed to the presence of essential minerals, vitamins, alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids. An attempt has been made to study the anti tumour potency of camellia sinensis (variety) sinensis and assamica extract against Nnitrosodiethylamine mediated hepatocellular carcinoma in swiss albino mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methanolic extracts of the two varieties was prepared and subjected to acute toxicity studies and sub acute toxicity studies using OECD guidelines. In acute toxicity studies swiss albino mice were taken and root extracts were given at various dose levels(10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000 mg/kg b. wt.) dissolved in PEG-200 administered orally at 2 ml/kg b. Wt. and control group receives solvent PEG-200 orally. In sub acute toxicity studies, the test group was given at various dose levels (7, 13, 20 mg/kg b. wt.) dissolved in PEG-200 and the control group received solvent PEG-200 (2 mg/kg b.wt.). The haematological parameters such as haemoglobin concentration, RBC count, total WBC count and differential count were estimated. The bio chemical parameters such as aspartate amino transferase(SGOT), alanine amino transferase(SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, total protein and albumin and cholesterol were estimated. The animals were divided into six groups and hepatocellular carcinoma is induced and is treated with various concentrations of test extracts. The enzymatic anti oxidants studies were performed for catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, retinol, ascorbic acid and vitamin E. Statistical analysis was performed using students t-test. RESULTS: The tea plant root extracts has shown 50% mortality at a dose corresponds to 135 mg/kg b. wt. in both varieties. There is no significant difference in biochemical parameters compared with control. The histopathological studies did not reveal any pathological changes and were normal. The transamines activities increased when compared with control. The root extracts reduced the altered enzyme activities to normal. The lipid levels decreased in two weeks of tea extract treatment. CONCLUSION: The tea plant root extracts of camellia sinensis (variety)` camellia and assamica when administered to hepatocellular carcinoma bearing mice, the enzyme levels and lipid peroxidation were reversed to normal values. The results confirm the anti tumour potency of camellia sinensis root extract against N-nitrosodiethylamine mediated hepatocellular carcinoma in swiss albino mice.