Amelioration of cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity by statins in rats

Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of simvastatin (SIM) and rosuvastatin (ROS) on the extent of tissue damage in cisplatin (CIS) induced hepatotoxicity. Methodology: Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats with single intraperitoneal injection of 7 mg/kg cisplatin. Group 1 received 0.5% sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, group 2 and 3 received SIM and ROS, respectively, and group 4 was injected single dose of CIS (7 mg/kg, i.p.).Group 5 and 6 were treated with SIM (10 mg/kg, p.o.) and ROS (10 mg/kg, p.o.) daily from 5 days before to 5 day after intraperitoneal administration of CIS, respectively. Liver function tests like AST, ALT and Total bilirubin, and markers of oxidative stress such as liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. All tissues were investigated for histopathological changes. Results: CIS treated rats showed a significant increase in AST, ALT and total bilirubin. Moreover, cisplatin caused liver damage with a higher MDA level, depletion of SOD, CAT activity and GSH. SIM and ROS ameliorate CIS induced liver damage due to improvement in liver function, oxidative stress, and histological alteration. Conclusions: These finding suggests that simvastatin and rosuvastatin may have a protective effect against cisplatin-induced liver damage via amelioration of lipid peroxidation as well as due to improvement of liver function.