Protective Effect of Nutritional Formula During Chemotherapy of Adriamycin in Rats

Adriamycin (ADR), an anthracycline, is widely used in the treatment of a variety of human malignancies, causes various toxic effects. The present study was designed to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of a new antioxidant formulae (Garlic, Se, Mg and vitamin E) in ameliorating adriamycin-induced red blood cell, cardio- and hepato-toxicities and elevation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity of red cell in rat. Five groups of six rats each were used. Rats of the first group serve as control and were fed on basal diet. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 were treated by intraperitoneal adriamycin (5mg/Kg/three times/two weeks). Rats of group 2 were fed on basal diet, while the rats of groups 3, 4 and 5 were fed on basal diet containing the antioxidant formula used with different levels. Our results showed that blood hemoglobin level was significantly reduced in ADR- treated group and that supplementation of antioxidant formula restored its level almost to the normal control. Significant decrease (p 0.05) was observed in Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and G6PD activities in ADR group compared to control while, supplementation of antioxidant formula among rats of groups 3, 4 and 5 significantly increased its levels compared to ADR group. Significant increase (/? 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in heart, liver, spleen and plasma of ADR rats group compared to control. However, administration of adriamycin to rats fed diet containing antioxidant formula the increase in MDA was less than that produced by adriamycin in rats fed normal diet. In conclusion, supplementation of the formulae containing garlic, Se, vit. E and Mg may prevent or reduce adriamycin-induced oxidative stress in red blood cell, liver and heart through enhancement of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and G6PD) and reduction of malondialdehyde.