Investigation of the Preventive Effect of Quercetin on 5-Fluorouracil Toxicity

This study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of quercetin on 5-fluorouracil toxicity.

Twenty-four Albino New Zealand rabbits weighing 2500 and 3000 g were used. Following 24 hours of acclimation, the rabbits were randomly assigned to 3 groups, with 8 rabbits per group. The animals were grouped as positive and negative control, and the study group received quercetin and 5-fluorouracil. Quercetin powder was dissolved in distilled water, and 25 mg/kg was administered to all animals in this group by gavage for 10 days. On the experiment's 8th, 9th, and 10th days, 400 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil was injected intravenously once daily. All animals were decapitated on the 11th day. All kidneys were dissected and soaked in formalin in numbered bottles. Damage findings such as mesangial hypercellularity, dilatation in the Bowman capsule, glomerular congestion, glomerular atrophy, tubular degeneration, interstitial congestion, and interstitial chronic inflammation were evaluated in H&E sections; morphologic findings such as epithelial shedding in the tubules, absence of brush border, and pyknotic nucleus were considered as tubular damage.

When the scores of the histologic changes in kidney tissue of both groups were compared by parameters such as inflammatory cell infiltration, tubular degeneration, glomerular degeneration, glomerular atrophy, edema, and congestion, the authors can conclude that quercetin has a preventive effect on 5-fluorouracil-induced nephrotoxicity.

The authors concluded that quercetin prevents 5-fluorouracil-induced nephrotoxicity by comparing the scores of the histologic changes in kidney tissue of the 2 groups using parameters such as inflammatory cell infiltration, tubular degeneration, glomerular degeneration, glomerular atrophy, edema, and congestion. Further studies should be performed to clarify the dosage and usage schedule.