Hesperidin alleviates cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats without inhibiting its antitumor activity

Hesperidin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, exerts many clinically appreciable effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory actions. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of multiple doses of hesperidin against cisplatin-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats.

Hesperidin (100 or 200mg/kg po) was given to rats one day before cisplatin (7.5mg/kg, ip) injection. All animals were sacrificed 5 days after cisplatin injection and blood samples were collected for determination of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol levels. Liver samples were used for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total nitrate and nitrite contents. Western blot analysis was used for the assessment of NF-κB and p-Akt expression and histopathological examination was also performed.

Results showed that hesperidin significantly reduced cisplatin-induced elevations in serum ALT and AST activities, TG and total cholesterol levels. It also reduced cisplatin-induced oxidative stress by significant reduction in liver MDA and NO content and elevation of GSH content. In addition, hesperidin significantly counteracted cisplatin-induced increased NF-κB expression and decreased p-Akt expression. Histopathological examination revealed that hesperidin greatly protected liver against cisplatin-induced injury. Moreover hesperidin did not inhibit the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin on cancer cells as determined by MTT assay.

Hesperidin decreased cisplatin-induced functional and histopathological liver damage in a dose-dependent manner without affecting its potential cytotoxic effect.