Protocatechuic acid mitigates adriamycin-induced reproductive toxicities and hepatocellular damage in rats

Abstract

Adriamycin (ADR) is an anticancer drug that has a wide report of toxicity in various organs including testes and liver. This has brought limitation to its use in chemotherapy. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) is a phenolic acid present in several foods of plant origins. The aim of this study is to assess the possible action of PCA in ADR-induced reproductive and hepatic toxicities in rats. Thirty adult male rats of about 160–180 g in weight were separated into five groups: group 1 was given normal saline and served as control group, group 2 was administered 20 mg/kg of ADR intraperitoneally, groups 3 and 4 were administered ADR and separate doses of PCA (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) respectively, while the group 5 rats received only 20 mg/kg of PCA. Pre-treatment with PCA significantly improved sperm motility, sperm count, and viability in ADR-induced rats. Furthermore, elevated levels of testes and liver malondialdehyde were significantly reduced in rats treated with PCA. Also, the increased serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, total cholesterol, triglyceride total protein, and albumin levels in ADR-induced rats were brought near the control value by PCA treatment. Conversely, reduction in the levels of testes and liver glutathione as well as the serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level in ADR group was significantly raised in PCA-treated rats. Therefore, PCA may represent a natural and promising compound for mitigating against oxidative stress-mediated toxicities.