Oxygenated Water could augment Doxorubicin to act against Diethylnitrosamine induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible synergistic effect of oxygenated water with doxorubicin against diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by diethylnitrosamine added to the drinking water at a dose of (100 mg/L) for 8 consecutive weeks followed by 8 weeks of drinking tap water. Diethylnitrosamine administration caused elevation in serum liver enzymes, serum tumor markers, caspase-3 content and depletion of the antioxidant enzymes in the liver tissue. This was confirmed by histopathological investigations. Interestingly, treatment with oxygenated water (5 ml/kg/day, p.o) concurrently with intravenous doxorubicin administration via tail vein (2.5 mg/kg/week) for 4 weeks starting from the 13 th week corrected serum liver enzymes, caused significant decrease in serum tumor markers, increased the hepatic tissue content of caspase-3, restored the depleted antioxidant enzymes and corrected the histopathological finding. In conclusion, oxygenated water enhanced the doxorubicin efficacy, most likely due to the anti-hypoxic effect.