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Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann logoLink to Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann
. 1996 Oct;87(10):1045–1051. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1996.tb03108.x

Inhibitory Effect of Chlorophyllin on Diethylnitrosamine and Phenobarbital‐induccd Hepatocarcinogenesis in Male F344 Rats

Shigeyuki Sugie 1,2,✉, Kiyohisa Okamoto 2, Hiroki Makita 2, Masami Ohnishi 2, Toshihiko Kawamori 2, Tomoyuki Watanabe 2, Takuji Tanaka 2, Hideki Mori 2
PMCID: PMC5921001  PMID: 8957062

Abstract

Modifying effects of chlorophyllin (CHL) on the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐phenobarbital (PB) hepatocarcinogenesis model were examined in rats. Five‐week‐old male F344 rats were divided into 8 groups. Groups 1 through 5 were given i.p. injections of DEN (100 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 3 weeks beginning one week after the start of the experiment, while groups 6 through 8 received vehicle treatment. Groups 1, 2, 3 and 7 received drinking water with 500 ppm PB from one week after the end of carcinogen or vehicle treatment. CHL‐containing diet (2000 ppm) was given to group 2 during the initiation phase and to groups 3 and 5 during the promotion and the post‐initiation phase, respectively. Group 6 was given the experimental diet alone throughout the experiment (24 weeks). Liver neoplasms were present in DEN‐treated groups and PB treatment promoted liver tumorigenesis. The incidences of adenoma in groups 2 and 3 were significantly smaller than in group 1 (P<0.05 and P<0.02), although the reductions in the incidences of liver cell cancer were not significant. The average numbers of liver neoplasms/rat in group 2 were significantly smaller than in group 1 (P<0.05‐P<0.005), Glutathione S‐transferase placental form‐positive foci were also significantly decreased by CHL treatment (P<0.05 and P<0.001). DEN and PB exposure increased liver ornithine decarboxylase activity and this increase was significantly inhibited by feeding of CHL during the initiation phase (P<0.001). These results suggest that CHL is a chemopreventive agent for liver neoplasia.

Keywords: Chlorophyllin, Hepatocarcinogenesis, Chemoprevention, Ornithine decarboxylase, Rat

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