Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth and third most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Erythrosine, a commonly used coloring agent in tablet preparation was studied for its role when supplemented with sub necrotic dose of DENA (n-diethyl nitrosamine) to induced HCC in Wistar rats. Single dose of chemical carcinogen DENA with intraperitoneal injection (20 mg/kg) administered before Erythrosine at a dose 0.014 mg/kg by p.o, DENA treated rats and alone. Exposure of DENA and Erythrosine alters the levels of Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGoT), Serum glutamate pyrophosphate transaminase (SGPT), Alkaline phosphate (ALP), Total Bilirubin (TBR), Blood uric acid, urea, lipid profile and Serum alpha-feto protein (AFP) in Wistar rats, with further alteration in intracellular antioxidant enzyme profile Lipid Per oxidation (LPo), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Melanoaldehyde (MDA), Glutathione Reductase (GR), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), Superoxide Dismutase (SoD) along with Vit. C and Vit. E conc.. Moreover Histopathological examinations of the liver tissue showed marked effect of DENA and Erythrosine exposure on liver structure. The results concluded that Erythrosine used as coloring agent for tablet coating as well as food colorant in India, was found to be an inducer as liver proliferating agent and promoter of HCC.