Effect of taxifolin on methanol-induced oxidative and inflammatory optic nerve damage in rats

Purpose: Oxidative stress and inflammation have been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of methanol toxicity. Taxifolin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we examined the protective effect of taxifolin against methanol-induced optic nerve toxicity. Materials and methods: Animals were divided into four groups (n = 6): healthy control group (HG), methotrexate (MTX) treated group, methotrexate + methanol treated group (MTX + M), and methotrexate + methanol + taxifolin treated group (MTX + M+T). MTX was administered to all groups except HG group 3 mg/kg via oral gavage for 7 d. After that 20% methanol was orally administered to the MTX + M and MTX + M+T group at a dose of 3 g/kg. After 4 h, taxifolin was orally administered to MTX + M+T group 50 mg/kg. Animals were sacrificed by high-dose thiopental anaesthesia, 8 h after taxifolin administration and biochemical studies were performed. Results: Malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant system, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels were significantly higher in the optic nerve of MTX and MTX + M groups compared to HG group. Otherwise, total glutathione (tGSH) and total antioxidant system levels decreased in MTX and MTX + M groups according to the HG group. MDA, total oxidant system, NF-κB, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels were decreased in the MTX + M+T group and tGSH, and total antioxidant system levels increased in the MTX + M+T group according to the MTX + M group. Conclusions: These results indicate that taxifolin prevents oxidative and inflammatory optic nerve damage due to methanol exposure.