Evaluation of Anti-Oxidants Potential of Turmeric, Vitamins C and E in Doxorubicin-Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a well-known anticancer drug in treatment of various cancers such as leukemias, lymphomas, soft-tissue sarcomas and solid tumors. Doxorubicin produces its toxicity due to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), production of superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical. This study investigated the anti-oxidant potentials of turmeric root extract in Doxorubicin induced toxicity in the presence of vitamins C and E in Wistar rats. In this study, 54 adult Wistar rats were divided into 9 groups of six animals each. Group 1 animals served as control (normal saline), group 2 animals served as negative control, and received Doxorubicin (DOX), group 3 animals were given DOX and turmeric, group 4 animals received DOX and vitamin C, group 5 animals received DOX and vitamin E, group 6 animals received DOX, vitamins C and turmeric, group 7 animals received DOX, vitamin E and turmeric, while group 8 animals received DOX, vitamin C and vitamin E and finally, group 9 animals receive DOX, vitamin C, vitamin E and turmeric. The experiment lasted for 28 days and blood samples were collected from each animal from the various groups for oxidative stress analysis. The study revealed that, DOX causes an increase in oxidative stress by the production of free radicals or ROS which in turn reduces the activities of endogenous anti-oxidants, thus leading to a decrease in the total anti-oxidant status of the system. All these are reversed on administration of turmeric root extract, vitamins C and E individually and collectively.