Physiological evaluation of the role of curcumin and black seed oil in reducing carboplatin-induced toxicity in Swiss albino mice

Carboplatin is a potent platinum-based chemotherapeutic, but its clinical use is limited due to serious toxicities, including hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which are associated with oxidative stress. This study evaluated the protective effects of curcumin and black seed oil against carboplatin-induced toxicity. Twenty male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups: control, carboplatin (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally on days 1 and 8 of experiment), curcumin and black seed oil (150 mg/kg orally daily for 14 days), and a combination treatment. Liver and kidney tissues were examined histologically, and serum biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed, including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).The results showed that carboplatin caused severe hepatic necrosis and loss of normal tissue structure, as well as significant renal tubular degeneration, along with elevated markers of oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidant defenses. Carboplatin increased MDA (5.03 ± 0.18 vs. 1.17 ± 0.15 nmol/mL) and ALT (175 ± 11.3 vs. 84.0 ± 4.74 U/L), while decreasing SOD activity (1.25 ± 0.17 vs. 3.02 ± 0.21 U/mL) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The combination treatment partially improved these parameters, with MDA, SOD, and ALT values of 3.07 ± 0.20 nmol/mL, 2.28 ± 0.19 U/mL, and 90 ± 7.5 U/L, respectively. Curcumin and black seed oil may attenuate carboplatin-induced toxicity, supporting their potential use as adjuvant agents in cancer chemotherapy.