Effect of Liv.52hb, Ganoderma Lucidum, Stc30, and Astaxanthin on Serum TNF-α And Liver Function Indices Following CCL4 Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Albino Wistar Rats Model

This study, examines the effect of Ganoderma lucidum, Astaxanthin, Liv.52 HB, STC 30, and a combination of the four (4) above-mentioned naturopathic remedies on various biochemical parameters (Serum TNF-α concentration, Liver function indices) of albino Wistar rats induced with Hepatocellular carcinoma using CCl4. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or Hepatoma is one of the popularly known types of hepato carcinoma that develops in hepatocytes which are the most common forms of liver cells like most cancers, they occur when the cells avoid apoptosis because of the epigenetic alterations and mutations that affect cellular machinery that result in cells replicating at very high and uncontrollable rates. Thirty-five (35) albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 60–160 g, were put into seven groups of 5 animals each as follows: Group I was given only distilled water as a placebo and served as the normal control, Group II was induced with HCC using CCl4 but not treated and served as the positive control, Group III was induced with HCC using CCl4 and animals in this group were treated with Ganoderma lucidum, Group IV was also induced with HCC using CCl4 and treated using Astaxanthin, Group V was induced with HCC using CCl4 and treated with STC 30, Group VI was induced with HCC and treated with Liv.52 HB and lastly, group VII was as well induced with HCC using CCl4 and treated using a combination of Ganoderma lucidum, Astaxanthin, Liv.52 HB, and STC 30. The treatment lasted for thirty-one (31) days. Sacrifice occurred 24 hours after administration of the last treatment dose and blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture. The biochemical parameters estimated in the blood samples were serum Alanine transaminase, Aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase activities, Total bilirubin, Conjugated bilirubin, and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α levels. Results obtained revealed the treatment significantly (p<0.05) reduced the concentrations of some biochemical parameters assayed for in the groups which received treatments (groups III–VII) compared with the positive control group (group II) whose biochemical parameter values were significantly (p<0.05) elevated compared to the normal control (group I). This reduction in values in the treated groups compared to the untreated group indicates that the treatment had positive or ameliorative effects on the parameters assayed compared with the positive control group, the values of the estimated parameters tended toward normal values of animals in the normal control group (not HCC induced). The estimated parameters that showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in the groups that received treatments when compared to the untreated group (positive control group) include; AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, CB, TB, CRP, and TNF-α. Some of the observed effects from the administration of these remedies correspond with other research works carried out using some natural remedies. Conclusively, the remedies/treatments were effective in restoring normalcy to the levels of some of the biochemical parameters assayed for in this investigation whose abnormal activities or levels are known to be associated with Hepatocellular carcinoma. The treatments were capable of restoring normal liver physio-biochemical integrity in the treated animals.