Antihepatocarcinogenic activity of whey protein concentrate and lactoferrin in diethylnitrosamine-treated male albino mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is considered one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy with cytotoxic agents showed a low response rate with possible toxic effects. Recently, some emphases have been placed on the anticancer properties of bovine whey protein and its components, especially lactoferrin. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the antihepatocarcinogenic activity of bovine whey protein concentrate (WPC, 300 and 600 mg/kg body weight) and lactoferrin (30 and 60 mg/kg body weight), orally and daily for 14 weeks, in the mice model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. The results showed that both WPC and lactoferrin (in a dose-dependent manner) alleviated significantly (P < .001) the elevation in serum markers of liver carcinoma and inflammation in the DEN-treated mice. Also, they exhibited a great amelioration in the livers' histological structure of the DEN-treated mice by 37.0% to 66.7%. In addition, they decreased significantly (P < .001) the hepatic DNA fragmentation in the DEN-treated mice by 23.1% to 32.7%. Only, the high doses of WPC and lactoferrin completely modulated the decrease in the activity of liver enzymic antioxidant defense system (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) and improved significantly (P < .01-.001) the concentration of hepatic reduced glutathione of the DEN-treated mice. Moreover, the high doses of WPC and lactoferrin reduced significantly (P < .05-.001) the elevation in the concentrations of hepatic active caspases 3, 8, and 9 of the DEN-treated mice. In conclusion, both WPC and lactoferrin were effective in inhibiting the hepatocarcinogenic activity of DEN in mice model through their ability to alleviate the hepatic inflammation and apoptosis.