Effects of resveratrol on methotrexate-induced intestinal injury

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer drug. Many studies have reported that MTX causes oxidative stress-associated damage in the small intestine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible protective effect of resveratrol (RES), an antioxidant, against MTX-induced damage in the small intestine.

Materials and methods: Twenty-four Spraque Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups; the control group, the RES group given 20 mg/kg RES for 10 days, the MTX group given single dose 30 mg/kg MTX, MTX+RES group given 20 mg/kg RES i.p. for 7 days and 30 mg/ kg MTX i.p. on the 7th day, RES being maintained for 3 further days. All rats were sacrificed on the 10th day, and small intestinal tissue was removed for histopathological and biochemical analysis. Additionally, mucosal apoptosis was analyzed using the TUNEL method.

Results: Histopathologically, villar fusion, atrophic villus epithelium, cystic expansion in crypts, hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration were seen in the small intestine in the MTX group. In the MTX+RES group this histopathological damage decreased significantly. Apoptotic score was significantly higher in the MTX group and significantly lower in the MTX+RES group. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level was significantly higher in the MTX group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly decreased in the MTX group. The MDA level in the MTX+RES group decreased while SOD and catalase (CAT) activities rose, this was not statistically significant.

Keywords: Fig. 2; RES treatment may ameliorate MTX induced small intestine damage especially at histopathological level (Tab. 2; Ref. 41)..