AMELIORATING EFFECT OF KALPAAMRUTHAA ON ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE SYSTEM IN THYMUS AND SPLEEN OF AFLATOXIN B1 INDUCED HEPATOCARCINOGENIC RAT AND ITS POSSIBLE ROLE AS A POTENT IMMUNOSTIMULANT
Liver cancer is associated with decreased immunocompetence and the immune cells are subjected to oxidative insult and are particularly sensitive to changes in antioxidant status as they carry out important functions through the generation of a high number of oxygen free radicals. The present study investigates the therapeutic efficacy of Kalpaamruthaa (KA),a Modified Siddha preparation, mixture of Semecarpus anacardium Linn. nut milk extract (SA), fresh dried powder of Emblica officinalis (EO) fruits and Honey on immune organs in Aflatoxin-B1 induced hepatocarcinogenic rats. HCC was induced by a single intraperitoneal dose of AFB1 (2 mg/kg body weight) in dimethyl sulphoxide and KA was administered (200 mg/kg body weight/day) in olive oil, orally for 28 days. Aflatoxin B1 was found to be immunosuppressive, leading to a reduction in levels of hematological parameters and a decrease in antioxidant levels in spleen and thymus whereas treatment with KA enhances the hematological parameters and revert the antioxidant levels to nearly normal in rats induced with AFB1. The results obtained depicts the role of Kalpaamruthaa in diminishing the hematological damage and lipid peroxidation and to ameliorate antioxidant defense system in spleen and thymus and thus its role as a possible immune stimulant to strengthen the immune system of the host against cancer.