The effect of vitamin C supplementation on favipiravir-induced oxidative stress and proinflammatory damage in livers and kidneys of rats

Abstract

Background: Favipiravir (FPV), an effective antiviral agent, is a drug used to treat influenza and COVID-19 by inhibiting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of RNA viruses. FPV has the potential to increase oxidative stress and organ damage. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by FPV in the liver and kidneys of rats, as well as to investigate the curative effects of vitamin C (VitC).

Methods: A total of 40 Sprague–Dawley male rats were randomly and equally divided into the following five groups: 1st; Control, 2nd; FPV = 20 mg/kg, 3rd; FPV = 100 mg/kg, 4th; FPV = 20 mg/kg + VitC (150 mg/kg), and 5th; FPV = 100 mg/kg + VitC (150 mg/kg) groups. Rats were given either FPV (orally) or FPV plus VitC (intramuscular) for 14 days. Rat blood, liver, and kidney samples were collected at 15 days to be analyzed for oxidative and histological changes.

Results: FPV administration resulted in an increase in proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in the liver and kidney, as well as oxidative and histopathologic damage. FPV increased TBARS levels significantly (p < .05) and decreased GSH and CAT levels in liver and kidney tissues but had no effect on SOD activity. VitC supplementation significantly reduced TNF-a, IL-6, and TBARS levels while increasing GSH and CAT levels (p < .05). Furthermore, VitC significantly attenuated FPV-induced histopathological alterations associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and kidney tissues (p < .05).

Conclusion: FPV caused liver and kidney damage in rats. In contrast, co-administration of FPV with VitC improved FPV-induced oxidative, pro-inflammatory, and histopathological changes.

Keywords:

• Favipiravir
• vitamin C
• liver
• kidney
• rat

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Hadiqa Arshad for the many helpful discussions and critical review of the manuscript.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.