Leiurus quinquestriatus venom ameliorates the hematological and lipid profile alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma-induced rats

The health of people is seriously threatened by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite its negative effects on lipid and hematological profiles, chemotherapy has continued to be the effective treatment for HCC. The effects of Leiurus quinquestriatus venom (LQV) on the alterations in the lipid profile and hematological state in the rats with HCC were assessed in this study. Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) at a dose of 100 mg/kg b.wt. was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) once every week (Wk) for three weeks in a row to cause HCC in rats. A week later, two intraperitoneal injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (1 ml/kg) were administered. Group 1 (Gp1) was used as a control group, and 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were split up into 5 groups (N = 10). Gp2 had been used as rats with HCC. Gp3 were HCC rats that received oral sorafinib (SF) treatment at a dose of 30 mg/kg every day for eight weeks. Gp4 were HCC rats that received intraperitoneal injections of LQV (1/10 of LD50) every day for eight weeks. Gp5 was treated with SF/LQV (daily/8Wks). A variety of hematological parameters were assessed. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and total triglycerides (TG) were also measured as part of the lipid profile. The findings demonstrated that these parameters changed significantly when animals were given HCC. These changes showed improvement after receiving SF or LQV treatment.