The impact of morin, a natural flavonoid, on cyclophosphamide-induced changes in the oxidative stress parameters in rat livers.

BACKGROUND Cyclophosphamide (CPX) has many adverse effects, partly due to oxidative stress induction in various tissues. Morin is one of the natural flavonoids with strong antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVES The aim of the current research was to estimate the influence of morin on changes in antioxidant parameters in rat livers after cyclophosphamide administration. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was performed on Wistar rats. The rats in Group C received 0.9% saline; those in Group CX received cyclophosphamide (CPX); and those in Group M-CX received CPX with morin. Cyclophosphamide and morin were given by gastric gavage for 10 consecutive days at doses of 15 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and catalase (CAT) activity were determined in liver tissue homogenates. RESULTS CPX caused a significant decrease in SOD activity and GSH levels, but only the latter was fully restored by morin. There were no significant differences in CAT activity in the various groups. CPX also insignificantly decreased MDA levels, which was aggravated by co-administration of morin. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained indicate that morin may exert some protective action on CPX-induced changes in the antioxidant state in rat livers.