Protective effect of silymarin nanoemulsion on 5-fluorouracil-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in rats

Abstract

Purpose: 5-Fluorouracil (5FUra) is the third most popular chemotherapeutic component employed to treat solid tumors. Silymarin (SM), a flavonoid, possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects on gastrointestinal diseases. In the present study, we aimed to appraise the silymarin (SM) and silymarin nanoemulsion (SMN) effect on 5FUra-induced gastrointestinal toxicity in adult male rats. Methods: Total of 30 male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups including the control, SMN (5 mg.kg-1), SM (5 mg.kg-1), 5FUra+SMN (5 mg.kg-1), and 5FUra +SM (5 mg.kg-1) for 14 days, and 5FUra (100 mg.kg-1). Gastrointestinal toxicity was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 5‐FUra (100 mg.kg-1). The control group received an intraperitoneal injection (ip) of normal saline and the treatment groups received ip injection of SM and SMN for 14 days. Results: Treating with SM and SMN diminished raised malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, histopathological degenerations, increased interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression induced by 5FUra in gastrointestinal tissues, and improved total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels and oral ulcerations. The body weight of rats was prevented to decrease particularly in the SMN group. Hence, treatment with SM and SMN reduced oxidative stress, histopathological degeneration, and the gene expression of inflammatory markers in the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion: The results indicated that treatment with SM and SMN markedly decreases the gastrointestinal toxicity caused by 5FUra.