Efficacy of Taraxacum officinale in liver damage caused by doxorubicin in rats

Background/Aim: The use of doxorubicin is limited due to its toxic effects on normal cells. A substance containing antioxidant properties, such as taraxacum officinale, would be useful in preventing doxorubicin toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of taraxacum officinale on doxorubicin-induced damage in the rat liver. Methods: Forty Wistar albino rats were allocated into four groups. In group 1 (control group), no treatment was given. In group 2 (Taraxacum officinale, group T), 100 mg/kg Taraxacum officinale was administered via the gavage route for 10 days. In group 3 (doxorubicin, group D), a single intraperitoneal dose of 40 mg/kg doxorubicin was given. In group 4 (doxorubicin + Taraxacum officinale, group D+T), a single intraperitoneal dose of 40 mg/kg doxorubicin was administered on the eighth day, and 100 mg/kg Taraxacum officinale was administered for 10 days. Blood malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. Histopathology was assessed by examining preparations of hepatic tissue with light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results: MDA levels were significantly higher, and the activities of SOD and CAT were lower in group D than in group D+T (P=0.04). Tissue damage was significantly higher in group D than in group D+T (P=0.03). Conclusion: Our short-term results indicate that oxidative stress could be responsible for the damage to liver tissue due to doxorubicin, and Taraxacum officinale might reverse these harmful effects.