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

ABSTRACT

Hepatotoxicity has been found to be one of the main side effects associated 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 glutathione and nonprotein thiol (NPT) together with significant increase in hepatic malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide generation, superoxide 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 elevated 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.

KEYWORDS:

• antioxidant
• doxorubicin
• gallic acid
• hepatotoxicity
• oxidative stress

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge Dr. E. R. Olowu, who assisted in the biochemical assays and statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

About the authors

Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale (DVM, PhD, FCVSN) is a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Veterinary Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He specializes in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology and toxicology.

Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi (DVM, PhD, FCVSN) is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He specializes in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology, drug metabolism and toxicology.

Uchechukwu Enwiwe Ajufo (DVM, MSc) is a postgraduate student in Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He specializes in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology and toxicology.

Olumuyima Abiola Adejumobi (DVM, MSc) is a Lecturer Veterinary in Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. He specializes in cardiovascular and renal pharmacology and toxicology.

Olufunke Eunice Ola-Davies (DVM, PhD, FCVSN) is a Reader in the Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. She specializes in cancer research and genotoxicity.

Adeolu Alex Adedapo (DVM, PhD) is a professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Momoh Audu Yakubu (PhD) is a professor in the Department of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, COSET, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA. His area of research is environmental toxicology.