The effect of taxifolin on high-dose-cisplatin-induced oxidative liver injury in rats

Background. Cisplatin is a non-specific platinum-based (derivative) chemotherapeutic agent that causes an increase in free radicals activity in the liver. Antioxidant activity of taxifolin has been demonstrated previously, and it has been reported that taxifolin inhibits the hydroxyl, radical in experimental studies. Objectives. No studies were found in the current literature examining the protective effect of taxifolin on cisplatin-induced oxidative liver damage. We aimed to determine the protective effect of taxifolin on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in an experimental study. Materials and methods. In total, 18 albino Wistar male rats were assigned into 3 groups: healthy controls (HC group), 5 mg/kg of cisplatin administered for 8 days (CIS group) and 50 mg/kg of taxifolin + 5 mg/kg of cisplatin administered for 8 days (TCG group). Malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), total oxidant (TOS), and total antioxidant (TAS) capacity levels were measured in the extracted liver tissue. Results. Liver tissue MDA and TOS levels were significantly higher in the CIS group. In contrast, tGSH and TAS levels were significantly lower in the CIS group, administered cisplatin alone (p < 0.001), compared to other groups. In the TCG group, administered cisplatin + taxifolin, MDA and TOS levels were significantly lower, whereas tGSH and TAS levels were significantly higher than in the CIS group (p < 0.001). Conclusions. These results suggest that taxifolin may be useful in preventing cisplatin-related liver injury.