title: Protective effects of onion (Allium cepa) extract against doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used and potent chemotherapeutic agent. However, serious dose-limiting toxicity through generation of free oxygen radicals is a commonly encountered clinical problem. The aim of the current study was to assess the protective role of onion (Allium cepa) extract (ACE) against DOX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 rats were randomly divided into 3 equal experimental groups: (1) DOX; (2) ACE + DOX; and (3) control groups. ACE was given orally as 1 mL of fresh ACE juice for 14 consecutive days followed by DOX injection. DOX was injected intraperitoneally in a single dose of 30 mg/kg body weight to induce hepatotoxicity, and the rats were killed after 48 h from injection. Control group was given saline only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ACE pretreated group (ACE + DOX), serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and tissue malondialdehyde and glutathione levels were significantly lower, while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were higher compared with the DOX group. The histopathological examination of liver specimens revealed parenchymal necrosis, proliferation of biliary duct in DOX group; while ACE pretreatment provided marked reduction in these changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that pretreatment with ACE protects against DOX-induced hepatotoxicity due to the antioxidant properties of ACE. Further studies on efficacy of antioxidant treatment by ACE in DOX-mediated toxicity and underlying mechanisms would provide a better explanation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey rafetmete@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rafet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mete
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Birol
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Topcu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oznur
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Clinic, Tekirdag State Hospital, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdogan Selcuk
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Seber
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gedikbasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tarkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yetisyigit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019697:Onions / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: Acute toxicity; animal model; anti-inflammatory; hepatic toxicity; liver