الفهرس 
Introduction and the aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Complementary and alternative use of traditional herbs has raised hopes for finding curative options for liver cancer diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Present study was undertaken to investigate the curative effects of licorice extract, as a herbal antioxidant, against diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced HCC in male rats, in the presence or absence of the antineoplastic agent cisplatin. Obtained results showed that treatment with DENA/CCl4 caused significantly increased of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level; and significantly decreased content of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in the liver of treated rats. In parallel, marked elevations in the activity of ALT, AST, ALP, and total bilirubin; and decreases in total proteins and albumin level were recorded. Also, obtained results showed significantly increased serum total lipid (TL), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level, and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C); and significantly decrease in serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level, were observed in HCC rats. Moreover, treatment of rats with DENA/CCl4 (HCC group) caused apoptosis in the liver as manifested by increased hepatic production of p53 and caspase-3, and decreased production of Bcl-2. On the other hand, serum concentration of both urea and creatinine were markedly increased suggesting kidney dysfunction. Treatment of HCC rats with cisplatin significantly reduced the adverse changes in the measured parameters of the oxidative stress, antioxidants, lipid profiles, apoptosis and liver function markers, when compared to the HCC treated group. Administration of licorice, as well as, significantly alleviated the adverse effects induced by DENA/CCl4 in the absence or the presence of cisplatin in all investigated parameters, as compared to the HCC group. In intact rats, administration of licorice alone had no side effects on mentioned parameters of hepatic oxidative stress, apoptosis, lipid profiles and markers of both hepatic and renal functions. While, treatment with cisplatin itself produced undesirable effects in measured biochemical indices which characterized by hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and disturbance of lipid profiles. However, treatment of cisplatin-administered rats with licorice partially ameliorated cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and dyslipidemia.