The Effect of Chlorogenic Acid on Methotrexate-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Lung Tissue of Rats

Although methotrexate (MTX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, lung toxicity remains a significant problem, limiting its use. The molecular mechanism of MTX-related lung toxicity is not fully understood. However, increased reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation play an important role in lung injury. Chlorogenic acid (CHA) is a natural phenolic compound that has been shown in recent years to have beneficial effects in many pathologies associated with OS and inflammation. This study focused on investigating for the first time, the potential therapeutic effects of CHA in the lung tissue of rats exposed to MTX. After lung toxicity was induced in rats by MTX (20 mg/kg) injection on the first day, two different doses of CHA (1.5 and 3 mg/kg) were used for treatment for 3 days. The results showed that CHA treatment reduced the level of pulmonary lipid peroxidation, inflammation and apoptosis and promoted the pulmonary antioxidant system in rats subjected to MTX. Taken together, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of CHA may play a central role in attenuating MTX-induced lung injury, but the exact mechanism needs to be investigated in more extensive preclinical studies.