Panax Ginseng Extract Ameliorates Methotrexate-Induced Multi-Organ Damage Via the Regulation of Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Oxidative damage plays an important role in organ toxicities caused by methotrexate (MTX). This study aimed to determine the antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng (PxG) extract against MTX-induced liver, lung, ileum and kidney damage. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley male rats (weight 250-300 g) were used in the study. The animals were randomly separated into three groups: a) Control, b) MTX-treated (MTX) and c) MTX+PxG-treated (MTX+PxG) groups. MTX was administered intraperitoneally at 20 mg/kg, as a single dose to MTX and MTX+PxG groups. PxG was administered orally at 100 mg/kg to the MTX+PxG group for five days. Saline was given to the control and MTX groups for 5 days. At the end of the experiment, liver, lung, ileum, and kidney samples were obtained. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and tissue factor (TF) activities were determined in all tissues. In addition, histological examinations were done through light microscopy. GraphPad Prism 5v. was used for statistics, and p<0.05 were considered significant. Administration of MTX caused severe injury in tissues. Findings showed that MDA level, SOD, and GST activities were significantly normalized in the MTX+PxG group compared to the control group. A significant reduction in GSH level observed in the MTX group was reversed with PxG administration In addition, TF activity and total protein levels were found to be impaired in the MTX group, but TF activity was significantly improved in liver and lung tissues and total protein level was significantly reversed in lung and ileum in MTX+PxG group. The results of histological examinations showed that MTX-induced damage was ameliorated with the PxG administration. In conclusion, this study shows that Panax ginseng, thanks to its antioxidant properties, reversed MTX-induced tissue damage and therefore may be beneficial against side effects in patients undergoing chemotherapy.