The present study aimed to evaluate the curative role of Terminalia muelleri ethanolic extract (TME)
against diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) induced HCC, in addition to evaluate its role as a combined therapy with
Doxorubicin (DOX) which is one of the standard chemotherapy. Sixty adult male albino rats were divided into
sixteen control rats and forty-four rats injected with DENA to induce HCC. The induction of HCC was
manifested through the significant increase in the enzymatic activity of serum aminotransferases (ALT and AST)
with sever changes in liver architecture and HCC was confirmed by the significant increase in serum AFP. The
progression of HCC was evidenced by the significant increase in serum AFP, decrease in serum albumin levels
and increase proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma in association with significant decrease of caspase-3
immunoreactivity. HCC-induced rats were subjected to the treatment with DOX, TME and the combination of
both. Normal rats were divided into control non-treated group and TME administered group. The obtained data
proved that, the treatment with TME elicited an efficient curative effect in the treatment of HCC in comparable
with DOX towards HCC and the combination of both exerted a more pronounced curative effect than that
obtained by the individual treatment. In conclusion TME could be a promising or adjuvant therapy in the
treatment of HCC.
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