Tribulus terrestris L. Hydroalcoholic Extract Revokes the Hepatotoxicity Induced by Cytarabine in Male Wistar Rats

Tribulus terrestris L. Hydroalcoholic Extract Revokes the Hepatotoxicity Induced by Cytarabine in Male Wistar RatsBackground: Liver is a critical organ that detoxifies poisonous compounds, metabolizes drugs, and excretes waste products.Liver is sensitive to damage and anticancer therapy.Cytarabine is the primary drug used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia.However, due to its side effects, a new combination is needed to improve treatment outcomes.Tribulus (T.) terrestris is a long-known plant with anticancer activity and many chemical and biologically active substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.Objectives: This study investigated the effect of T. terrestris L. extract against the hepatotoxicity induced by cytarabine in rats.Methods: A total of 24 adult male rats were divided into 4 groups (n=6): Control (saline 1 mL/kg), cytarabine (25 mg/kg), T. terrestris (250 mg/kg), and cytarabine + T. terrestris extract.Saline and cytarabine were administrated intraperitoneally, and T. terrestris extract was administered by oral gavage every day for 4 weeks.At the end of the treatments, blood serum samples were used for enzymes and antioxidant measurements, and liver samples were used for histological examination.Results: In the cytarabine group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly increased, and the levels of antioxidant enzymes significantly decreased compared to the control group.Also, the liver tissue had shown severe damage.In the cytarabine and T. terrestris extract group, the level of antioxidant enzymes increased, and MDA level, liver enzymes, and liver tissue damage decreased compared to the cytarabine group. Conclusion:Our results indicate that T. terrestris with a dose of 250 mg/kg could significantly protect against cytarabine hepatotoxicity.