Lactiplantibacillus plantarum P101 Attenuated Cyclophosphamide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Regulating the Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway.

Cyclophosphamide causes side effects in cancer patients, including hepatotoxicity. Probiotics have recently emerged as potential approaches for the administration of many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of P101 against cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury and elucidate the underlying mechanism. In this study, P101 or GG were pre-administered to mice with varying duration (1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks) before being intraperitoneally injected with cyclophosphamide at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day for 7 days to induce liver injury. Results demonstrated that cyclophosphamide-induced liver injury was characterized by histopathological disorders, including irregular central venous shape and hepatic vascular rupture, as well as a severe inflammation response and oxidative stress. The administration of probiotics for 3 weeks exerted the most significant improvements in alleviating liver injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation when compared to the shorter intervention duration. Notably, P101 exhibited more pronounced effects than GG. Furthermore, P101 enhanced the antioxidant defense system by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, ultimately alleviating hepatotoxicity and hepatocyte apoptosis. In conclusion, this study highlighted the potential of P101 to alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity.