Enhanced therapeutic efficacy and amelioration of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by quercetin in 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine-induced colon cancer in rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of quercetin treatment in combination of cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity as well on 1,2-dimethyl hydrazine (DMH)-induced colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, animals are exposed to DMH hydrochloride to induce colon cancer. In these groups, nephrotoxicity was assessed with the help of blood urea nitrogen, urea, and creatinine. The antitumor activity of quercetin and CP assessed with the help of number of aberrant crypts and foci formation. Tumor size in different treatment group determined with the help of vernier caliper. RESULTS: CP is one of the most widely used antineoplastic drugs against colon cancer, but it has a major dose-limiting drawbacks of causing nephrotoxicity. Therefore, there is a need for a novel therapeutic regimen which will reduce the nephrotoxicity and enhance the anticancer activity of CP. The protective effect of quercetin on CP-induced nephrotoxicity is well-known. Moreover, quercetin is proven to have antitumor activity in colon cancer. Keeping all the facts in view, this study was conceived to evaluate the role of quercetin on therapeutic efficacy and nephrotoxicity of CP in DMH-induced colon cancer in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Treatment of quercetin with CP (7.5 mg/kg) prevents the CP-induced nephrotoxicity along with enhance the anticancer activity confirmed by the reduction of aberrant crypt foci number. Treatment of CP and quercetin alone leads to significant increase in the anticancer activity as compared to control colon tumor rats. CONCLUSION: In DMH-induced colon cancer model, combination of quercetin and CP ameliorates CP-induced nephrotoxicity as well as enhanced antitumor activity.