Neuroprotetive potential of Taraxacum officinale leaf extract against cisplatin neuropathy via antioxidative...

Cisplatin, a potent platinum-based chemotherapeutic, effectively treats various cancers. However, it is limited by cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), driven by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.The present study investigates the neuroprotective potential of Taraxacum officinale L. leaf extract (TOE), rich in polyphenols such as luteolin and quercetin, known for their antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.Molecular docking of 10 polyphenols against NF-κB1 revealed that luteolin and quercetin outperform synthetic inhibitors, forming strong interactions with key residues. These compounds exhibited favorable pharmacokinetics, including high gastrointestinal absorption and nontoxicity. The CIPN was induced in male Wistar albino mice (3 mg/kg cisplatin, i.p., weekly for 5 weeks), with TOE (500 mg/kg, intragastric, daily) or saline administered concurrently. A TOE-only group served as a control. Behavioral assessments (rotarod, hot plate, cold plate, tail flick) evaluated sensory and motor function, while biochemical assays measured antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPx1, SOD2), oxidative stress markers (MDA, TOS, IMA), and proinflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6) in serum and sciatic nerve tissues.Cisplatin induced significant behavioral deficits, reduced antioxidant capacity, and elevated oxidative and inflammatory markers. The TOE significantly ameliorated these effects, restoring behavior, enhancing antioxidant status, and reducing inflammation, consistent with the in silico predictions of NF-κB1 inhibition.These findings highlight T. officinale as a promising, safe, complementary therapy for CIPN, warranting further clinical exploration.