Dapagliflozin: A Promising Strategy to Combat Cisplatin-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Hepatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Chemotherapy, particularly cisplatin, causes significant hepatotoxicity.
• Drug repurposing and natural agents offer potential interventions for liver protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of dapagliflozin and silymarin against cisplatin-induced liver injury in a rat model.
• To investigate the potential synergistic effects of combining dapagliflozin and silymarin.

Main Methods:

• Adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups and treated for 45 days.
• Treatments included cisplatin alone, silymarin, dapagliflozin, or a combination.
• Evaluations involved body weight, blood glucose, liver function tests, and histopathology.

Main Results:

• Cisplatin significantly elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, TB) and decreased protein/albumin.
• Dapagliflozin and silymarin administration significantly reduced liver enzymes and improved albumin levels.
• Combination therapy demonstrated synergistic effects, enhancing liver protection.

Conclusions:

• Dapagliflozin and silymarin exhibit substantial hepatoprotective properties against cisplatin-induced toxicity.
• Combination therapy shows synergistic potential for mitigating chemotherapy-related liver damage.
• Further research is needed for clinical translation in cancer patients.