Browsing by Author "Wickramasinghe, S.M.D.N."

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A Long-term investigation of the anti-hepatocarcinogenic potential of an indigenous medicine comprised of Nigella sativa, Hemidesmus indicus and Smilax glabra
(BioMed Central, 2006) Iddamaldeniya, S.S.; Thabrew, M.I.; Wickramasinghe, S.M.D.N.; Ratnatunga, N.; Thammitiyagodage, M.G.
BACKGROUND: A decoction comprised of Nigella sativa seeds, Hemidesmus indicus root bark and Smilax glabra rhizome is being recommended for cancer patients by a family of traditional medical practitioners of Sri Lanka. Previous investigations have demonstrated that a short term (10 weeks) treatment with the decoction can significantly inhibit diethylnitrosamine (DEN) mediated expression of Glutathione S-transferase P form (GST-P) in rat liver. The objective of the present investigation was to determine whether long term (16 months) treatment with the decoction would be successful in inhibiting in rat livers, not only DEN- mediated expression of GST-P, but also the carcinogen mediated development of overt tumours (OT) or histopathological changes leading to tumour development (HT). METHODS: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups of 12 each. Groups 1 and 2 were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with DEN (200 mg/kg) while group 3 was injected normal saline (NS). Twenty-four hours later, decoction (DC; 6 g/kg body weight/day) was orally administered to group 1 rats, while groups 2 and 3 (DEN-control and normal control) were given distilled water (DW). Treatment with DC or DW continued for 16 months. At the end of the 9th month and 16th months (study 1 and study 2 respectively), six rats from each group were sacrificed, and livers observed for OT or HT, both visually and by subjecting liver sections to staining with Haemotoxylin and Eosin (H & E), Sweet's Silver stain (for reticulin fibers), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) staining (for glycogen), and immunohistochemical staining (for GST-P). RESULTS: At the end of 9 months (study 1) a hepatocellular adenoma (HA) developed in one of the rats in the DEN + DW treated group (group 2). At the end of 16 months (study 2), livers of all rats of group 2 developed OT and HT. Large areas of GST-P positive foci were also observed. No OT, HT or GST-P positive foci were detected in any of the other groups. CONCLUSION: Protection against DEN-mediated carcinogenic changes in rat liver can be achieved by long term treatment with the DC comprised of N. sativa seeds, S. glabra rhizome and H. indicus root bark.
A preliminary study on the effect of a single dose of Ipomoea aquatica (Convolvuiaceae) on intestinal glucose absorption of healthy, male, Wistar rats
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2003) Malalavidhane, T.S.; Wickramasinghe, S.M.D.N.; Jansz, E.R.
Abstract available
Traditional Remedy with possible antl-hepatocarclnogenlc potential
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2004) Iddamaldeniya, S.S.; Thabrew, M.l.; Wickramasinghe, S.M.D.N.; Ratnatunga, N.; Thammitiyagodage, M.G.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a decoction (DC) comprised of Nigella sativa seeds, Hemidesmus indicus root, and Srnilax glabra rhizome can protect against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocarcinogenesis (HC) as assessed by (i). Glutathione S-transferase P form (GST-P) expression in rat hepatocytes, and (ii). tumour development in rat livers. DESIGN, SETTING, AND METHODS: (i). Six groups of 10 rats each were used. Groups 1-4 were administered DEN (200mg/kg, i.p). Groups 1 and 2 received orally, DC at 4g/kg /day, and 6g/kg /day, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 received respectively, distilled water (DW), and garlic (20 g/kg /day). Groups 5 and 6 served as the Normal controls and DC controls, respectively. The number, area and staining intensity of GST-P + foci and the number of cells/cm2 of the + foci were recorded. (ii). Two groups of 6 rats each were injected with DEN (200mg/kg). Group 1 was fed with DC (6g/kg/day) for 16 months while group 2 received only DW. Livers were examined for overt tumours (OT) / tumour like lesions. Results; (i). The number and area of DEN- mediated GST-P positive foci, number of cells/cm of foci and staining intensity of the foci were significantly (P>0.001) reduced by the decoction and garlic in the order dose 2 = garlic >dose 1. (ii). OTs / tumour like lesions were observed in all DW fed rats but not in DC treated rats. CONCLUSION: The DC comprised of N. sativa, S. glabra and H. indicus has the potential to protect rat liver against DEN induced hepatocarcinogenesis.