Protective effects of zingerone on oxidative stress in doxorubicin-induced rat hepatotoxicity

Introduction: Doxorubicin is one of the widely used anthracycline antibiotics and anticancer drugs, which can cause side-effects like hepatotoxicity in high doses. Zingerone is the effective compound in ginger, which has antioxidant effects. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of this chemotherapy drug on hepatotoxicity caused by doxorubicin. Procedure: In this study, 48 male wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. First group received normal saline, second group received 20 mg/kg of doxorubicin at day 5, intraperitoneally, and the third group received 40 mg/kg of oral zingerone for 8 days. Fourth, fifth and sixth groups received 10, 20, 40 mg/kg of zingerone for 8 days, respectively and at day 5, doxorubicin was injected, intraperitoneally. Animals were anaesthetized 72 hours after injecting doxorubicin and blood sampling was done in order to evaluate serum factors. Moreover, a part of liver was used for histopathology assessment and another part was used for assessing oxidative stress parameters. Result: Activity level of serum enzymes (AST, ALT) and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) increased, Other parameters (GPX, SOD and GSH) levels decreased in doxorubicin group. The levels are reversed to normal in co-administration with zingerone. Thus, zingerone especially at high dose could have hepatoprotective effect in doxorubicin hepatotoxicity model. Discussion and conclusion: Since side effects and hepatotoxicity of doxorubicin have limited its usage, zingerone, which is a natural, inexpensive and secure material, can be co-administered to decrease the side effects of doxorubicin.