Influence of <i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> leaf extract on doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

The research into plant is used to search for new agents with pharmacological activities. This study seeks to evaluate the effects of the  palm leaf methanolic extract against nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and weight loss induced by chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin in a  rat’s model. Five groups of rats (n= 4 in each group) were treated with or without doxorubicin (3.0 mg/kg/day, ip) and with palm leaf  methanolic extract (400 mg/kg/day or 1200 mg/kg/day, po), followed by evaluation of renal and hepatic biochemical markers. The  findings obtained indicated that palm leaf methanolic extract exerts protective effects against doxorubicininduced nephrotoxicity and  hepatotoxicity. Doxorubicin significantly elevated renal function markers, namely creatinine, uric acid and urea, however, these  biomarkers remained within normal levels after treatment with palm leaf methanolic extract (400 mg/kg/day) as compared to the control  group. Treating the rats with doxorubicin and palm leaf methanolic extract at doses 400 mg/kg/day and 1200 mg/kg/day,  counteracts the doxorubicin-induced elevation of serum creatinine and uric acid compared to the doxorubicin group. Doxorubicin also  significantly increased hepatic function tests namely alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and bilirubin  as compared to the control group. In addition, treating the rats with palm leaf methanolic extract doses and doxorubicin caused a  significant decrease in the serum levels of hepatic markers compared to the doxorubicin group. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in a  weight loss of 34.1%, the weight loss caused by doxorubicin was prevented by treating the rats with the extract at 1200 mg/kg/day as compared to their baseline body weight. Thus, the results of the current study suggest that the active constituents present in the palm  leaf methanolic extract have a protective effect against hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and weight loss-induced by doxorubicin.