Antitumour effect of benzylidene-glucose (BG) in rats with chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The effect of 4,6-benzylidene-D-glucose (BG) on chemically induced primary hepatocellular carcinomas in rats was tested after daily single injections of 85 mg per kg body weight into the aorta through a canula implanted through the right carotid artery. Treatment started immediately following a biopsy confirming the diagnosis and continued over a period of 7 to 10 days. One day after the final injection the liver was removed and the animals sacrificed. Histological examination of the samples taken before and after treatment of the same animals indicated an extensive tumour necrosis after treatment. Complete or nearly complete tumour necrosis was found in 3 of 7 animals while no effect of treatment was found in only 1 animal. HPLC-chromatograms of BG indicated that the compound is metabolised within 1 h. A metabolite may possibly be the active component.