Effect of Aqueous Extracts of <i>Kigelia africana</i> and <i>Acacia nilotica</i> on Selected Tumour Markers in Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Cell Dysplasia in Wistar Rats

Abstract

<b>ABSTRACT</b><br /> <b>Background: </b>Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a nitrosamine derivative with alkylating, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties that causes major liver damage and acts as a hepatocarcinogen in rodents. <i>Acacia nilotica</i> and <i>Kigelia africana</i> are plants used in local communities to treat wounds and ulcers.<br /> <b>Objective: </b>This study investigated the effect of aqueous extracts of <i>Kigelia africana</i> and <i>Acacia nilotica</i> on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels in DEN-induced liver cell dysplasia in Wistar rats.<br /> <b>Methods: </b>Forty (40) male Wistar rats, aged 6–8 weeks, were divided into eight (8) groups of five (5) animals each. Liver cell dysplasia was induced with a single intraperitoneal dose of DEN (100 mg/kg) and promoted with oral phenobarbitone (0.25 mg/kg) twice weekly, beginning one week after induction. Group I received clean drinking water; group II received DEN only; group III received DEN + phenobarbitone; groups IV and V received DEN + phenobarbitone + 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of <i>Acacia nilotica</i> respectively; groups VI and VII received DEN + phenobarbitone + 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of <i>Kigelia africana</i> respectively; and group VIII received DEN + phenobarbitone + 10 mg/kg of sorafenib. Blood samples were collected on day 120 for biomarker evaluation, and liver tissue was processed for histopathology.<br /> <b>Results: </b>CEA and CA-125 differed significantly among groups (p < 0.001), although group means largely remained within the physiological reference range; AFP showed no significant difference (p = 0.580). The highest CEA values occurred in the DEN-only and DEN + phenobarbitone groups, while CA-125 was highest in the DEN-only and sorafenib-treated groups. Animals treated with the plant extracts, particularly at the higher dose (500 mg/kg), maintained CEA and CA-125 values close to those of the negative control. Histopathology showed dose-dependent attenuation of DEN-induced changes by both extracts, with the higher dose of <i>Kigelia africana</i> producing near-normal liver architecture.<br /> <b>Conclusion: </b>Both extracts, especially at higher doses, appeared chemoprotective against DEN-induced hepatic changes, supporting further investigation of their underlying mechanisms.