# Apple Seed Extract in Cancer Treatment: Assessing Its Effects on Liver Damage and Recovery

## TL;DR

Apple seed extract may help reduce liver damage caused by cancer treatment by balancing cell death and survival signals in mice.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates that apple seed extract can modulate liver apoptosis and survival pathways in a cancer model.

## Key findings

- ASE showed dose-dependent regulation of Caspase-9/3 and Bcl-xL in liver tissue.
- PI3K–Akt and IL-2 signaling were preserved or restored at specific ASE doses.
- Histological analysis revealed partial structural recovery in treated mice.

## Abstract

Cancer therapies frequently induce hepatotoxicity, complicating treatment courses and outcomes. Natural products, including polyphenol-rich extracts, have shown hepatoprotective activity via anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, often linked to NF-κB and PI3K–Akt pathways. Apple-derived polyphenols (e.g., phlorizin/phloretin) also demonstrate liver-protective effects in experimental settings. In this study, we examined whether ASE mitigates cancer-related liver damage by rebalancing the apoptosis–survival axis and maintaining PI3K-Akt signaling in an endometrial cancer mouse model. Female Institute of Cancer Research mice with induced endometrial cancer received ASE (0–200 mg) over 13 days; liver tissues were analyzed for Caspase-3, p53, LC3, and SQSTM1 using histology stains, Western blot (e.g., Caspase-3/9, Bcl-xL, PI3K, Akt, PCNA, IGF-IR), ELISA, and qRT-PCR (GAPDH). ImageJ (version 1.54f; RRID: SCR_003070) quantification statistical analysis followed (mean ± SD; post-hoc tests). ASE exhibited dose-dependent modulation of apoptosis and survival readouts in liver tissue of cancer-bearing mice: (i) Caspase-9/3 and Bcl-xL showed differential regulation across doses; (ii) PI3K–Akt and IL-2 signals were preserved or restored toward baseline at specific doses; and (iii) histology indicated partial structural recovery. Thus, ASE may mitigate liver injury by re-balancing apoptosis–survival signaling and promoting structural recovery. Our interpretation emphasizes that dose, route, and formulation are critical for translational potential.