article · Nutrition and Cancer
Oleanolic acid, a natural compound found in various herbal sources, counteracts chemically induced liver carcinogenesis in an animal model. In an investigation involving forty-eight male albino mice exposed to the carcinogen DMBA, administration of oleanolic acid effectively suppressed tumour development. The compound improved liver function and tissue architecture, accompanied by a reduction in alpha-fetoprotein levels. At the molecular level, oleanolic acid improved antioxidant status and induced both apoptosis and autophagy by altering the expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Beclin-1. In addition, the phytochemical restricted tumour progression by reducing cell proliferation, curbing angiogenesis through the suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor, and lowering inflammation via the inhibition of NF-kappa-B, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and cyclooxygenase-2.
Liver cancer presents a severe global health burden, creating a constant need for safer protective and therapeutic agents. Studying naturally occurring phytochemicals clarifies how dietary or plant-derived molecules intervene in tumour growth. Demonstrating that oleanolic acid can simultaneously enhance antioxidant defences, trigger cancer cell clearance, and suppress inflammation provides foundational biological evidence that supports the exploration of plant compounds in hepatic disease management.
The findings suggest oleanolic acid could serve as a starting point for developing liver cancer chemopreventive agents or supportive therapies. Potential users include preclinical oncology researchers and pharmaceutical discovery teams focusing on natural-product-derived anticancer drugs. However, because the evidence is restricted to an early-stage animal trial, the work is at a preclinical stage and remains distant from commercial or clinical application, requiring extensive toxicological and human clinical validation.
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Phytochemicals appeared as a rich source of efficient and safe agents against many diseases like cancer. Various herbal sources are rich in oleanolic acid (OA). The scope of this study was to assess the biochemical and molecular mechanisms implicated in the ameliorative potency of OA against DMBA-induced liver carcinogenesis. Forty-eight male albino mice were assigned randomly to five groups (eight mice each) as follows: control healthy group, olive oil group, OA group, DMBA group, and DMBA with OA. Apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis were investigated in the tissue samples. Histopathological examination was carried out as well as liver enzymes activity and other hepatic antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers. The treatment with OA effectively suppressed the DMBA-initiated liver carcinogenesis via modulation of antioxidant status, induction of apoptosis and autophagy through modulating the expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Beclin-1, inhibiting angiogenesis (VEGF), proliferation (PCNA), and improved liver function and histological picture with a reduction in AFP level. Additionally, OA applies its antitumor effects by inhibition of proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and Cox-2) associated with DMBA administration. The present study shows that OA treatment efficiently suppressed the DMBA-initiated liver carcinogenesis through induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and autophagy and modulating inflammation.
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DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1776887
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