Therapeutic Potential of Cucumis Melo (L). Fruit Extract and Its Silver Nanopartciles Against Den Induced Hepatocellular Cancer in Rats

Abstract

Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles have a wide range of biological activities and using nanoparticles as one of the novel approaches in cancer therapy. In this present research work, the anticancer efficacy of Cucumis melo fruit extract and its silver nanoparticles was explored. Wistar rats were divided into six groups and hepatic cancer was induced with 0.01 % DEN (diethylnitrosamine) through drinking water for 16 weeks. Cyclophosphamide was given as the standard drug at the dose of 50 mg / kg body weight. Hematological Parameters showed a decrease in the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), mean corpuscular Hb concentration (MCHC), and platelets (PLTS) levels except white blood cell (WBC) in DEN induced cancer animals. Significant alterations in the hematological parameters were observed after treatment which indicate the protective effect of Cucumis melo fruit on the hemopoietic system. The levels of liver function markers such as transaminases (AST ALT, ALP, LDH, GGT and 5’NT were significantly elevated in serum and liver of cancer bearing rats. Treatment with crude extract and silver nanoparticles of Cucumis melo fruit, indicating that Cucumis melo fruit could have exerted its protective effect. The levels of serum tumor markers viz., Alpha feto protein (AFP) and Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) elevated in rats induced with DEN, which then were reduced following Cucumis melo fruit treatment, indicating the anticancer activity of the drug. Histological evaluation of liver and kidney were also performed to authenticate the present work.