Acanthus ilicifolius plant extract prevents DNA alterations in a transplantable Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing murine model

Figure 1 A: Basic experimental protocol for haematology and histology; B: Basic experimental protocol for DNA single-strand breaks assay.

Figure 2 Survival curve of all the four groups of mice.

Figure 3 Contiguous liver sections from mice showing hepatocellular histological profiles. A, B, F: Normal hepatocellular architecture depicting hepatocytes radiating from the central vein; C, D, E: Aberrant hepatocellular phenotype with prominent basophilic focal lesions (black arrows) and the presence of eosinophilic and clear cell foci following serial, intraperitoneal (ip) inoculations of viable Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells; G, H: Almost normal hepatocellular architecture following simultaneous ip administrations of aqueous leaf extract (ALE) of A. ilicifolius and EAC. A and B: Untreated Control; C, D, and E: EAC Control; F: ALE Control; G and H: EAC + ALE. CV: Central vein. Magnification, A, C, and G: × 100; B, D, E, F, H: × 450.

Figure 4 Light micrographs of tissue sections from murine liver (after 30 d of tumour transplantation) showing immunostaining of metallothionein (MT) with anti-rat MT-1 antibody and 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB). A and B: Strong immunostaining of MT protein in EAC Control mice; C: Reduced immunostaining of MT in EAC + ALE-treatment mice. ALE: Aqueous leaf extract of A. ilicifolius; EAC: Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Arrow Head ( ) indicates intense immunostaining of MT protein with prominent focal expression and isolated clusters of MT-positive cells. Arrow (↑) indicates scattered/individual MT immunopositive cells. Magnification, A: × 100; B and C: × 270.

Figure 5 Effect of continuous treatment with ALE on DNA damage in the liver of mice 5 d post-EAC inoculation. A: Length:Width of DNA mass; B: Percentage of Tailed DNA. Each column and bar indicates the mean ± SE. n = 10. ^bP < 0.0001