Studying the protective effect of gamma-irradiated basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) against methotrexate-induced liver and renal toxicity in rats

Abstract

The efficacy of methotrexate (MTX), a widely used cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent, is often limited by severe hepatic and renal toxicity. Basil has shown antioxidant and antimicrobial activities due to its phenolic and aromatic compounds. Here, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of g-radiation processing on the total phenolic and total flavonoids content of dried basil as well as to study the protective role of g-irradiated dried basil leaves against MTX-induced hepatic and renal toxicity in rats. Results obtained that g-radiation treatment increased the amount of total phenolic and total flavonoids content of dried basil. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the MTX (in saline, 20 mg/kg) given to rats on the day 21 of the experiment resulted in significant elevation in the activities of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase and the levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid as well as the concentration of hepatic and renal malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase accompanied with a depression in hepatic glutathione content and xanthine dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in comparison with control and treated groups. Addition of either raw or g-irradiated basil (1%) to the diet of MTX-rats has significantly reduced the activities of serum enzymes and the levels of serum urea, creatinine and uric acid accompanied by ameliorating the alteration in the antioxidant/oxidant status of the liver and kidney. It was concluded that basil can protect against MTX-induced hepatic and renal injury and may be of therapeutic potential in alleviating the systemic side effects of this chemotherapeutic agent.