Therapeutic Implications of Ajwa Dates (Phoenix dactylifera) in the Inhibition of Liver Tissue Alterations through the Modulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Phosphatase, and Tensin Homolog Gene

Background: Dates are a plant species in the palm family, Arecaceae and is used as staple food in the Middle East for thousands of years. Aim: The current study was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of ajwa dates extract (ADE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‑induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on mice mode through different groups as control group without treatment of CCl4, ADE and CCl4‑treated group, and CCl4‑treated group only. Results: This finding demonstrated that histological alterations including degeneration, congestion and infiltration of lymphocytes were seen in the liver tissue in CCl4‑treated groups. However, ADE‑treated groups showed protection to attenuate CCl4‑induced liver toxicity through maintenance of architecture of hepatocytes as evident of congestion, necrosis, and degeneration was not noticed. Moreover, a few number of infiltrations of lymphocytes were noticed in ADE‑treated groups. However, expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein was evaluated in all groups, and it was observed that PTEN was highly expressed in control group and ADE‑treated group. Whereas, PTEN expression was also observed in CCl4‑treated group, but out of eight cases, one case showed less expression of PTEN protein. The difference in expression pattern of PTEN protein in CCl4‑treated group and ajwa‑treated group was statically insignificant (P > 0.05). VEGF was not expressed in control and ajwa‑treated group. While expression of VEGF protein was observed in CCl4‑treated group, and it was noticed that two out of eight cases showed expression of VEGF protein. Conclusion: The findings supported the idea that ADE might reduce liver tissue alterations or maintenance of architecture of hepatocytes. Ajwa dates‑treated group showed decreased in the VEGF expression and such angiogenesis process involve in migration and differentiation of endothelial cells as well as prevent the loss of PTEN protein expression.