Biochemical and ultrastructural studies on the protective effect of ginger extract against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male albino rats

Abstract

Introduction Cisplatin is a highly effective antineoplastic drug used for treatment of solid tumors. Hepatotoxicity is the major adverse side effect in cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Aim of the study The objective of this study was to investigate the possible chemoprotective effects of ginger on the liver biochemical and ultrastructural changes induced by cisplatin chemotherapy. Materials and methods Twenty-four adult male albino rats were randomly divided equally into four groups: group 1 (control group); group 2 (ginger-treated group); group 3 (cisplatin-treated group); and group 4 (cis platin+ginger-treated group). At the end of the treatment, animals were killed and blood samples and liver tissues were collected for the biochemical and ultrastructural investigations. Results Cisplatin chemotherapy induced severe liver lesions manifested by a significant decrease in serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and a significant increase in serum albumin level. Furthermore, dilated and vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum, megamitochondria, swollen mitochondria, myelin figure, lipid droplets, and wide discontinuous blood sinusoids with absence of endothelial cells and detachment of Kupffer cells were observed. Oral administration of ginger simultaneously with cisplatin improves the liver dysfunction and lesions induced by cisplatin. Conclusion The results obtained provide in-vivo evidence, at biochemical and ultrastructural levels, of the chemoprotective effects of ginger against the hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin chemotherapy.