Abstract

The modifying effect of Chinese cabbage extract on the development of preneoplastic hepatic enzyme altered foci was examined in an in vivo mid-term assay system. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) of 15 mg/kg body weight was injected to newborn Sprague-Dawley rat subcutaneously within 24 hours, and after 3 weeks, Chinese cabbage (95% ethanol extract) was given at a dose of 2 mg/ml in drinking water. All rats were sacrificed at week 12. The modifying effect was evaluated comparing the number of foci and area/cm of induced glutathione S-transferase placental form positive (GST-P ) foci in the liver with those of the corresponding control group given DEN alone. Chinese cabbage extract showed statistically significant decrease in the number and area of GST-P+ foci. The result suggests that Chinese cabbage could have inhibitory effect on rat hepatocar- cinogenesie.

• Keywords: Chinese cabbage extract, GST-P+ foci, DEN, Hepatocarcinogenesis