Protective effects of silymarin on epirubicin–induced hepatotoxicity in mice

 

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Article Title: Protective effects of silymarin on epirubicin–induced hepatotoxicity in mice
Authors: Sasu A., Herman H., Folk A., Balta C., Rosu M, Miutescu E, Hermenean A., Cotoraci C.
Affiliation: 1 Department of Hematology, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad 2 Institute of Life Sciences, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad 3 Department of Pathology, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad 4 Department of Gastroenterology, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad 5 Department of Histology, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad
Abstract: Hepatotoxicity of chemotherapy is frequent, depending upon the chemotherapeutic regimen and individual factors. The anthraciclins hepatotoxicity was studied on laboratory animals and chemotherapy-treated patients, and it showed clinical, biological, structural and ultrastructural changes at hepatic level. The present study aims to evaluate the hepatic toxic effects of epirubicin in mice and to bring scientific proof on the hepatoprotection capacity of silymarin in liver chemotherapy toxicity. We used six mice lots: control, epirubicin (Epi), Epi+ 50mg/kg sylimarin (SM), Epi+100mg/kg SM, 50mg/kg SM and 100mg/kg SM, and we performed biochemical testing of liver markers, and histological analysis of liver tissue. We also looked at epirubicin within the hepatic tissue in darkfield microscopy with hyperspectral detection. The results revealed the increase of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyl transferase in epirubicin treated group, which were improved after silymarin treatment. The liver of epirubicin treated mice showed histological abnormalities, and these were also ameliorated by the treatment with silymarin, especially the 100mg/kg dose. The adjuvant hepatoprotector therapies are especially valuable in the prevention and improvement of liver chemotherapy toxicity.
Keywords: epirubicin, hepatotoxicity, chemotherapy, hepatic serum markers, silymarin
*Correspondence: Alciona Sasu, Department of Hematology, “Vasile Goldis” Western University of Arad, Romania. alcionasasu@yahoo.com