SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF QUERCETIN AND SILYMARIN AGAINST CISPLATIN-INDUCED HIPPOCAMPAL DAMAGE
Abstract
Background of Study: The hippocampus is crucial for learning and memory but is vulnerable to
neurotoxins like cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug that causes oxidative stress, inflammation, and
cognitive impairments. Cisplatin damages neurons through excessive oxidative stress,
mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation, leading to hippocampal damage. Natural
compounds like quercetin and silymarin, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties, show promise in protecting against this damage. Their combined effects could offer
enhanced neuro-protection, as quercetin targets oxidative stress and silymarin reduces
inflammation and oxidative damage.
Aim: This study looked into the synergistic effect of quercetin and silymarin against cisplatininduced hippocampal damage.
Methods: This study utilized thirty-five male Wistar rats with average weight of 150-250g were
gotten from Adebare Abumal Farms, Owode-Ede, and housed in the animal house of the Faculty
of Basic Medical Sciences, Adeleke University, Ede. They were acclimated and grouped into
five, with Group A receiving normal saline (0.2mls), Group B receiving olive oil (0.2mls),
Group C receiving Cisplatin (5mg/kg), Group D receiving Quercetin + Silymarin (both at
30mg/kg), and Group E receiving Cisplatin + Quercetin + Silymarin (5mg/kg + 30mg/kg) via
oral gavage or intraperitoneal injection. A Y-maze test assessed spatial memory. After 28 days,
rats were euthanized by cervical dislocation, with blood and hippocampal tissues collected for
biochemical assays (MDA, SOD) and histological evaluation. Biochemical analyses assessed
oxidative stress, while tissue processing involved fixation, dehydration, clearing, wax
infiltration, embedding, sectioning, and mounting to study hippocampal cytoarchitecture.
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Results: Behavioral tests showed no significant differences (p>0.05) between treated and control
groups in Y-maze alternation and fecal pellet counts. Cisplatin significantly elevated MDA
levels and reduced SOD activities (p
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