Thymoquinone supplementation ameliorates cisplatin-induced hepatic pathophysiology

An integrated view of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity: characteristics, common molecular mechanisms, and current clinical management

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapy drug widely prescribed to treat various neoplasms. Although fundamental for the therapeutic action of the drug, its cytotoxic mechanisms trigger adverse effects in several tissues, such as the kidney, liver, and heart, which limit its clinical use. In this sense, studies point to an essential role of damage to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of tissue injuries. Due to the limitation of effective preventive and therapeutic measures against CP-induced toxicity, new strategies with potential cytoprotective effects have been studied. Therefore, this article is timely in reviewing the characteristics and main molecular mechanisms common to renal, hepatic, and cardiac toxicity previously described, in addition to addressing the main validated strategies for the current management of these adverse events in clinical practice. We also handle the main promising antioxidant substances recently presented in the literature to encourage the development of new research that consolidates their potential preventive and therapeutic effects against CP-induced cytotoxicity.

Ameliorative effects of thymoquinone on the caspase 3, kidney function and oxidative stress tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity

First in the literature this study aimed to investigate the effects of Tartrazine, a common industrial food dye, on kidney and whether Thymoquinone has a protective effect in tartrazine-induced nephrotoxicity. The study conducted on the rats bred at İnönü University Experimental Animals Production and Research Center. Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, where each group included 8 rats: control, Tartrazine, Thymoquinone, and Tartrazine + Thymoquinone groups. The experiments continued for 3 weeks and then, kidney tissues and blood samples were collected from the rats under anesthesia. Malondialdehyde (MDA), super oxidized dismutase (SOD), total oxidant status (TOS), increase in Oxidative stress index (OSI), glutathione (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), Total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased in the kidney tissues collected from the tartrazine group. Serum Bun and Creatinine levels increased in the tartrazine group. Tartrazine administration damaged and degenerated the glomeruli and cortical distal tubes in the histopathology of kidney tissues, also different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the renal cortex and medulla. Thymoquinone and tartrazine administration improved both biochemical and histopathological parameters. Tartrazine administration induced nephrotoxicity. This could be observed with the increase in oxidant capacity and the deterioration of kidney functions. Thymoquinone was observed to demonstrate strong antioxidant properties. Thymoquinone could be used primarily as a protective agent against Tartrazine-induced toxicity.

Alpha-pinene neutralizes cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats through activation of Nrf2 pathway

PURPOSE

Testicular toxicity is one of the most important side effects of cisplatin (CP) therapy. Alpha-pinene (AP) is a naturally occurring monoterpene with antioxidant character in plants. Here, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of AP against CP-induced testicular toxicity by including the nuclear factor erythroid 2-associated factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in rats.

METHODS

Thirty male rats were divided into 5 groups: control, CP, CP + AP (5 and 10 mg/kg) and only AP (10 mg/kg). CP was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 5 mg/kg on the first day, followed by three consecutive injections of AP. Serum reproductive hormone levels were evaluated using ELISA kits. Oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis markers in testicular tissue were also determined colorimetrically. In addition, how CP affects Nrf2 pathway and the effect of AP on this situation were also addressed.

RESULTS

Treatment with CP significantly increased OS, inflammation, ERS and apoptosis in testicular tissue. Administrations of AP resulted in an amelioration of these altered parameters. The mechanism of therapeutic effect of AP appeared to involve induction of Nrf2. Furthermore, these results were also confirmed by histological data.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that AP can exhibit therapeutic effects against CP-induced testicular toxicity. It can be concluded that AP may be a potential molecule to abolish reproductive toxicity after chemotherapy.

Gentisic acid ameliorates cisplatin-induced reprotoxicity through suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress and upregulating Nrf2 pathway

Reproductive toxicity is a serious side effect of cisplatin (CP) chemotherapy. Gentisic acid (GTA) is a phenolic acid with strong antioxidant properties. Here, we aimed to determine therapeutic effect of GTA against CP-induced testicular toxicity in rats for the first time. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single dose of CP (5 mg/kg; intraperitoneal) and treated with GTA (1.5 and 3 mg/kg; intraperitoneal; 3 consecutive days). The levels of oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis biomarkers were assessed in the testicular tissue of rats. In addition, how CP affects the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and the effect of GTA on this situation were also addressed in the testicular tissue. CP administration induced histopathological changes in testicular tissue of rats with a significant increase in OS, inflammation, ERS and apoptosis biomarkers and a decrease in antioxidant capacity and Nrf2 expression levels. Administrations of GTA resulted in an amelioration of these altered parameters. These data suggest that GTA may be a potential therapeutic agent against CP-induced testicular toxicity. Activation of the Nrf2 pathway plays a key role of this therapeutic effect of GTA.

Curative Effect of AD-MSCs against Cisplatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats is Potentiated by Azilsartan: Targeting Oxidative Stress, MAPK, and Apoptosis Signaling Pathways

Despite its clinical value, cisplatin (CISP) is complicated by marked hepatotoxicity via inducing oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic pathways. This study aims to explore the protective impact of azilsartan (AZIL), an antihypertensive drug, in addition to adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) on CISP-induced hepatotoxicity. After characterization and labeling of AD-MSCs by PKH26 dye, 54 Wistar male albino rats were randomly divided into nine groups: I (CONT), II (AZIL.H), III (CISP), IV (CISP + AZIL.L), V (CISP + AZIL.H), VI (CISP + AD-MSCs), VII (CISP + AZIL.L + AD-MSCs), VIII (CISP + AZIL.H + AD-MSCs), and IX (CISP + VITA C). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), and albumin levels were determined. Assessment of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and glutathione contents, and superoxide dismutase activity and histopathological evaluations were done on hepatic tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR was utilized to estimate the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 genes. Cell homing of labeled AD-MSCs to the liver tissues was investigated. Hepatic expression of JNK1/2, ERK1/2, p38, Bax, Bcl-2, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins was investigated by western blot analysis. CISP elevated serum ALT and AST activities, reduced albumin level, and remarkably changed the hepatic architecture. It increased the expression TNF-α and IL-6 genes, raised the expression of JNK1/2, ERK1/2, p38, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 proteins, and diminished the Bcl-2 protein. By contrast, treatment of animals with either AZIL or AD-MSCs dramatically reduced the effects of CISP injection. Moreover, treatment with combination therapy (AZIL.L or H + AD-MSCs) considerably mitigated all previously mentioned alterations superior to AZIL or AD-MSCs alone, which might be attributed to the AZIL-enhanced homing ability of AD-MSCs into the injured liver tissue. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrated that AZIL improves the hepatoprotective potential of AD-MSCs against CISP-induced hepatotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and apoptotic pathways.

Protective effect of quercetin and thymoquinone against genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by ZnO nanoparticles in the Wistar rat model

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are increasingly used in a variety of consumer and other commercial products. Hence, man faces the risk of exposure to ZnO-NPs and the consequent adverse health effects. Mitigation/prevention of such effects using natural products has drawn the attention of scientists. Therefore, the aim of the present study has been to find the toxic effects associated with exposure to ZnO-NPs, and the protective role of the phytochemicals thymoquinone (TQ) and quercetin (QCT) in the rat model. ZnO-NPs were administered to male Wistar rats through oral route; TQ / QCT was concurrently administered through intra-peritoneal route. The response in the animal was analyzed adopting chromosomal aberration test, micronucleus test, and comet assay of bone marrow cells to assess the genotoxicity, and biochemical assays of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total extractable protein of liver, and reduced glutathione (GSH) of liver homogenate to monitor the changes in the antioxidant defense mechanism in response to the oxidative stress. Treatment of 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) of ZnO-NPs produced adverse effects on all aspects analyzed viz., structural chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, DNA damage, SOD, catalase, lipid peroxidation, GSH, and extractable total protein of liver. Co-treatment of TQ / QCT offered protection against the toxicity induced by ZnO-NPs. The most optimum doses of TQ and QCT that offered the best protection were 18 mg/kg bw and 500 mg/kg bw, respectively. The study reveals that TQ / QCT supplementation is beneficial in the context of toxic effects of ZnO-NPs.