Ameliorative Effect of Gallic Acid on Doxorubicin- Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats Through Antioxidant Defence System

Abstract

Hepatotoxicity has been found to be one of the main side effects asso- ciated with doxorubicin (Dox) administration in cancer therapy. The aim of the present study was to examine the ameliorative effect of gallic acid (GA) in Dox-induced hepatotoxicity. Sixty male Wistar rats of 10 rats per group were used in this study and were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups (A-F). Rats in Group A served as the control group and received distilled water orally for 7 days: Group B was given Dox at 15 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally (IP) on Day 8. Group C was given GA at 60 mg/kg body weight orally for 7 days + Dox at 15 mg/kg IP on Day 8. Group D was given GA at 120 mg/kg body weight orally for 7 days +Dox at 15 mg/kg IP on day 8. Rats in Groups E and F were administered GA alone at 60 and 120 mg/kg body weight orally for 7 days, respectively. Dox administration led to a significant reduction in hepatic reduced glu- tathione and nonprotein thiol (NPT) together with significant increase in hepatic malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide generation, superax- ide dismutase, and catalase activity; hepatic glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase activity were significantly inhibited in Dox-treated rats, The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin concentrations were significantly ele- vated following Dox administration. Pretreatment with GA ameliorated Dox-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress. The results suggest that GA may offer protection against hepatic damage in Dox cancer chemotherapy.