Toxicity Effect of Holothuria Lessoni Sea Cucumber on Cancerous Mitochondria Obtained from Rat Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant type of liver cancer. In spite of many treatment approaches, its treatment is still associated with challenges. Therefore, new approaches with minimal side effects are necessary for its treatment. Sea cucumbers are marine animals that have many biologically active compounds. They are rich in useful compounds and have high nutritional value. It has been reported to have many pharmacological effects, including anticancer. This research was designed to investigate the effects of Holothuria lessoni (H. lessoni) sea cucumber toxicity in HCC model rats. METHODS: Cancer was induced in rats using diethyl nitrosamine (200 mg/kg DEN/single dose) + 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF/ dietary/ 0.02% w/w for two weeks). After 15 weeks, hepatocytes and mitochondria were isolated to evaluate toxicity tests. RESULT: The results of the study showed that H. lessoni (62.5, 125, and 250 µg/ml) were able to cause toxicity only in cancerous mitochondria by increasing the level of free radicals, disrupting the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane, and initiating cell death signaling (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was suggested that H. lessoni sea cucumber may be beneficial in the treatment of HCC along with selected drugs. However, more studies are needed.