Doxorubicin, also known as Adriamycin, is a highly effective antineoplastic agent, but it is well known for its oxidative damage to various body organs, such as hepatotoxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the possible protective role of the natural antioxidant garlic oil on Doxorubicin-induced liver toxicity. Studies were performed on four groups of mice. Control group, garlic oil group, doxorubicin group for seven doses, and doxorubicin plus garlic oil group. Histological examination of liver sections revealed that doxorubicin caused pathological changes in liver cells as well as the reduction in the liver nuclear area and nuclear volume. Administration of garlic oil plus doxorubicin showed a reduction in liver damage induced by DOX.
The liver is one of the largest and most important organs in the body and has diverse functions in metabolism, detoxification and synthesis of many biomolecules and it is the first organ affected by DOX treatment (Prasanna et al., 2020). Doxorubicin (DOX is one of the most effective anthracycline antibiotics and anti-tumour agents used to treat a variety of human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (Osama and Suzan, 2008). Doxorubicin has a greater effect on cells that are multiplying rapidly, but it can kill both healthy and cancerous cells (Saalu et al., 2009.). Doxorubicin has many side effects, including hepatotoxic, cardiotoxic, nephrotoxic, and immunosuppression (Chaudhary et al., 2016). Liver damage is a relatively common adverse effect in patients with other cancers who are treated with doxorubicin (Cainelli and Vallone, 2009). Oxidative stress is generally considered a major cause of DOX hepatotoxicity. Dox produces hydroxy radical, which destroys DNA primarily in cancerous cells. Doxorubicin can cause an imbalance of oxygen free radicals and antioxidants which causes damage to liver tissue (Mohan et al., 2014). Natural products, including plants, have been used by humans in traditional medicines to treat and alleviate different diseases and are valued for their ability to protect against all types of diseases (Wambi et al., 2009). Several natural and synthetic antioxidants have been suggested to protect against DOX-derived cardiotoxicity (Asensio-Lopez et al., 2012; El-Bakly et al., 2012). Plant phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and isoflavones have an important role in the treatment of many diseases and some of them induce a potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective effect (Seif, 2016). Garlic (Alium sativum) is a bulbous plant whose bulb has a strong taste and characteristic odor. Garlic has been well known for its medicinal use since ancient times and has been reported to have antioxidant properties in vitro (Reitz et al., 1995). Garlic is used as hypolipidemic and cardiotonic. Some garlic preparations also appear to possess hepatoprotective, immune-enhancing, anticancer, chemopreventive and antioxidant activities (Harunobu et al., 2001). In mammals, garlic has effects of hypolipidaemia, hypoglycemia, hypotriglyceridaemia and hypocholesterolaemia (Ali et al., 2000).
