Modulation of energy metabolic enzyme expression in N-nitrosodiethylamine-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis by Chinese herbs, Huqi San.

AIM To elucidate the anticancer mechanism of Huqi San by assessing the expression of G-6-Pase, SDH, ATPase and AFP in N-nitrosodiethylamine-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. METHODS A Solt-Farber two-step test model of hepatocarcino genesis was established by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) in rats to investigate the modifying effects of expression of 6-glucosephosphatase (G-6-Pase), succinodehydrogenase (SDH), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in N-nitrosodiethylamine-mediated hepatocarcinogenesis. Hu Qisan compounded by eight medicinal herbs was prepared in glycoprival granules with wich 0.38 g crude herbs/mL solution was prepared for administration. gamma-Glutamy-transpeptidase (gamma-GT), G-6-Pase, SDH and ATPase were immunohistochemically determined. The activity of alpha-fetoglobulin (AFP) in the livers was measured with Immunofluorescence. RESULTS Huqi San treated rats showed significant decrease in areas of gamma-GT positive foci (P< 0.001). On the other hand, the expression of G-6-Pase, SDH and ATPase has obviously altered in Huqi San treated group. The activity of AFP also significantly decreased after the treatment with Huqi San (8 g/kg body weight or 4 g/kg body weight) or total alkali of mistletoe (0.12 g/kg body weight). CONCLUSIONS Huqi San can obviously increase these activities of G-6-Pase, SDH and ATPase, and at the same time significantly decrease the expression of gamma-GT and AFP. Therefore, it can obstruct or inhibit the rat's liver preneolastic lesion induced by DEN.