EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATIONS IN A WISTAR RAT MODEL OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Seema Gupta, Pooja Arora, Roopam Kushwaha, Surabhi Sharma Poonam Gangwar, Madhuri Pratap shrawane, Preeti Bhadauria and Ramakant*

ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, often associated with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyherbal formulations composed of Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Phyllanthus niruri, and Terminalia arjuna in a Wistar rat model of HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced in rats using diethylnitrosamine (DEN). The rats were treated with the polyherbal formulation over a period of 8 weeks. Antioxidant activity was assessed through the measurement of enzymatic antioxidants including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH), while lipid peroxidation (MDA) levels were used to evaluate oxidative damage. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by quantifying pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. Results showed that treatment with the polyherbal formulation significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme levels and reduced MDA content, indicating attenuation of oxidative stress. Additionally, pro-inflammatory cytokines were markedly decreased, suggesting potent anti-inflammatory effects. Histopathological analysis further confirmed the protective effect of the polyherbal treatment on liver tissue integrity. These findings support the therapeutic potential of the studied polyherbal formulation as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in managing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Polyherbal formulation, Antioxidant activity, Anti-inflammatory activity.