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Investigating the Hepatoprotective Properties of Rutin Against Oxidative Stress and Liver Injury Induced by Paclitaxel in Rats

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): Desember:

Mohammed Maseer Jasim (1), Nadheerah F Neamah (2), Waleed Khaled Ghanem (3)

(1) Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Basrah, Iraq
(2) Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Basrah, Iraq
(3) Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Basrah, Iraq
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Abstract:

General Background: Liver toxicity remains a critical adverse effect of many chemotherapeutic agents, significantly limiting their clinical utility. Specific Background: Paclitaxel, a potent anticancer drug, is known to induce hepatic injury through oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. However, effective strategies to prevent such hepatotoxicity are limited. Knowledge Gap: While rutin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, its protective role against paclitaxel-induced liver injury has not been fully elucidated in vivo. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of rutin against paclitaxel-induced hepatic damage in male rats through biochemical, oxidative, and histopathological assessments. Results: Rutin administration markedly reduced serum ALT, AST, and MDA levels while increasing GPx activity, restoring hepatic architecture, and alleviating necrosis, sinusoidal congestion, and apoptosis compared with paclitaxel-only groups. Novelty: This study provides novel experimental evidence demonstrating that rutin counteracts chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity primarily via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Implications: The findings suggest that rutin could serve as a promising adjunctive therapy to protect against drug-induced liver injury in cancer patients undergoing paclitaxel treatment, warranting further clinical evaluation.
Highlight :




  • Rutin reduced oxidative stress and normalized liver enzymes in paclitaxel-treated rats.




  • Co-administration of rutin preserved hepatic structure and improved antioxidant status.




  • Rutin showed hepatoprotective effects against paclitaxel-induced liver injury.




Keywords : Rutin, Paclitaxel, MDA, GPx, ALT, AST

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