Protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone against cisplatin-induced hepatorenal injury via modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Context: Cisplastin (CDDP) is a chemotherapeutic drug frequently used to manage a variety of cancers. However, its use is associated with hepatorenal toxicity resulting from elevated reactive oxygen species production.

Objective: Herein, the hepatorenal protective effect of tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) in cisplatin (CDDP)-treated rats was examined.

Methods: Wistar male rats randomly divided into four groups: normal control, tBHQ, CDDP and tBHQ + CDDP received 50 mg/kg b.w./day of tBHQ orally for 14 days while 7 mg/kg b.w of CDDP was administered intraperitoneally on Day 8.

Results: CDDP increased serum biomarkers of hepatic (AST, ALP, ALT, GGT) and renal (creatinine, urea, uric acid, kidney injury molecule 1) function. The levels of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 protein and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities were decreased in liver and kidney. Also, CDDP increased hepatic and renal levels of NF-κB, TNFα, Bax and caspase-3 proteins and decreased hepatorenal levels of Bcl-2 protein in the liver and kidney. Pre-treatment with tBHQ prevented these negative effects.

Significance: Pre-intervention with tBHQ attenuates hepatorenal toxicity of CDDP by dampening oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.