Preventive effect of Curcumin against Cisplatin-related hepatotoxicity in Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus L.)

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that kills rapidly proliferating cells. Being a non-specific mode of treatment, it can cause damage to healthy cells like bone marrow cells, epithelial cells, hair follicles etc., resulting in various side effects. Cisplatin, a platinum coordination complex, is a common chemotherapeutic drug that is used in the treatment of several types of cancers, including testicular, ovarian and bladder cancer. Cisplatin interferes with DNA replication by forming cross-linking of DNA in the form of 1, 2-intrastrand crosslinks with purine bases. It can also cause missense mutations and breaks in DNA. The DNA injury triggers cell death and inhibits RNA and protein synthesis, especially in rapidly dividing cells. However, it has been observed to have profound participation in neuropathy, ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity, few among many other side effects. Changes in the activity of certain serum enzymes have been implicated to cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of cisplatin on Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus L.) animal model. Mice were intraperitoneally administered with cisplatin at varying sublethal doses and exposure periods. They were tested for hepatotoxicity by estimating several biochemical parameters. The mid-toxic dose was co-treated with curcumin supplementation since curcumin has prominent anti-radical, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic activities. The investigation was further extended to study the effect of cisplatin on hepatic cell viability and inspect presence of chromosomal aberrations. The present study shall assist in better comprehension of cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity and effects of curcumin to prevent related side effects.