Investigation of Protective Effects of Quercetin on Oxidative Stress Induced by Vinblastine in Bone Marrow of Rats

Background: Chemotherapy drugs such as vinblastine cause oxidative stress in the bone marrow resulting changes in blood cell production and anemia. In this study, the antioxidant and therapeutic potential of quercetin was evaluated.

Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats were divided into three groups; The Control group received a daily dose of normal saline, group 2 received a single dose of 2 mg/kg b.w. vinblastine intraperitoneally (i.p.) on the first day of study, and group 3 received a single dose of vinblastine (2mg/kg b.w. i.p.) along with quercetin (20 mg/kg b.w. i.p.) for 14 days. To evaluate oxidative stress in bone marrow; malondialdehyde (MDA), Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) and Pro-Oxidant/Antioxidant Balance (PAB) were also measured using specified methods.

Results: The blood analysis showed that the mean level of RBC, Hemoglobin, and Hematocritwere significantly higher in the vinblastine group compared to the control group. Treatment with quercetin could elevate them into the normal range. Administration of vinblastine elevated the levels of bone marrow MDA and PAB significantly (p<0.05) compared to the control group but had no effect on total antioxidant capacity. The use of quercetin with vinblastine showed a decrease in the levels of bone marrow MDA and PAB compared to the vinblastine group alone.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that quercetin at a dose of 20 mg/kg could improve the anemia induced by vinblastine chemotherapy, and it can also be useful in improving vinblastine-induced lipotoxicity.