Investigation of protective effect of milk thistle extract on methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity in wistar rat

Mohammad Mohammadi,1,* Sahar behvandi,2 Sara mohammadzade,3 Babak mohammadian,4 Ahmad lotfi garavand,5

1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3. Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
4. Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
5. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Introduction

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage. the imbalance between free radicals production and antioxidant defense systems leads to oxidative stress. methotrexate (mtx), a chemotherapy drug and autoimmune anti-inflammatory drugs, has its own toxic effects due to its cytotoxic nature. medicinal plants play an important role in reducing the toxicity of drug use due to the presence of antioxidant compounds . in this study protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of milk thistle on oxidative stress induced by methotrexate in liver tissue of wistar rats was investigated.

Methods

In this study, 30 male wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. the first group (control) was treated with distilled water. the second group (mtx) received methotrexate at a dose of 20 mg / kg intraperitoneally and on the seventh day of the experiment. the third, fourth, and fifth groups of milk thistle extract received 50, 100 and 200 mg / kg oral and daily, respectively, and received methotrexate intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 mg / kg on day 7, respectively. after 11 days, liver tissue was isolated to measure mda, tac, gsh and cat, sod activity in tissue homogeneity and histopathologic studies.

Results

The results showed that sod, cat, tac and gsh levels decreased in methotrexate group compared to control group (p <0.05). cat, tac and gsh levels increased in the fourth and fifth groups compared to the methotrexate group (p <0.05), and the sod level in the fifth group increased compared to the methotrexate group (p <0.05). mda levels in methotrexate group increased compared to control group, which decreased significantly in the fifth group compared to methotrexate group (p <0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, milk thistle extract administration could have a protective role in methotrexate-induced liver toxicity in rats through improving antioxidant defense system.

Keywords

Methotrexate, milk thistle extract, hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, antioxidant