Involvement of PI3K/Akt pathway in the protective effect of hesperidin against a chemically induced liver cancer in rats

• Published in: Journal of biochemical and molecular toxicology Vol. 33; no. 6; pp. e22305 - n/a
• Main Authors: Mo’men, Yomna S., Hussein, Rasha M., Kandeil, Mohamed A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2019
• Subjects: 1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; AKT protein; animal models; Anticancer properties; antioxidant; Antioxidants; Antitumor activity; Body weight; cancer prevention; cell signaling; Diethylnitrosamine; flavonoids; Fuel consumption; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hesperidin; Liver; Liver cancer; Organic chemistry; Oxidative stress; animal models; antioxidant; cancer prevention; flavonoids; cell signaling
• ISSN: 1095-6670; 1099-0461
• DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22305

Hesperidin is a flavanone glycoside that is found in the Citrus species and showed antioxidant, hepatoprotective as well as anticancer activity. This study investigated the effect of hesperidin on the PI3K/Akt pathway as a possible mechanism for its protective effect against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)‐induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Adult Wistar rats were divided into Control group (received drug vehicle); DEN group (received 100 mg/L of DEN solution for 8 weeks), and hesperidin + DEN group (received 200 mg/kg body weight of hesperidin/day orally for 16 weeks + DEN solution as DEN group). Our findings showed that the administration of hesperidin significantly decreased the elevation in liver function enzymes, serum AFP level, and oxidative stress markers. Moreover, hesperidin administration suppressed DEN‐induced upregulation of PI3K, Akt, CDK‐2 protein expression, and preserved the integrity of the liver tissues from HCC formation. In conclusion, the hepatoprotective activity of hesperidin is mediated via its antioxidation and downregulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.