Neuroprotective Effect of Quercetin and Nano-quercetin Against Cyclophosphamide-induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Brain: Role of Nrf2/ HO-1/Keap-1 Signaling Pathway

Neurotoxicology. 2023 Jul 5:S0161-813X(23)00088-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.06.008. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTQuercetin (Qu) is a powerful flavanol antioxidant that is naturally found in plants and is part of the flavonoid family. Qu has a wide range of biological properties, such as neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and radical scavenging capabilities. However, the in vivo application of QU is limited by its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. These issues could be addressed by utilizing Qu nanoformulations. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent that causes severe neuronal damage and cognitive impairment due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. The present study aimed to explore the proposed neuroprotective mechanism of quercetin (Qu) and quercetin-loaded Chitosan nanoparticles (Qu-Ch NPs) against the brain oxidative damage induced by CP in male albino rats. For this aim, thirty-six adult male rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=6). Rats were pretreated with Qu and Qu-Ch NPs orally in doses of 10mg/kg bwt/day for 2 weeks, and CP (75mg/kg bwt) was administered intraperitoneally 24hours before the termination of the experiment. After 2 weeks, some neurobehavioral parameters were evaluated, and then euthanization was done to collect the brain and blood samples. Results showed that CP induces neurobehavioral deteriorations and impaired brain neurochemical status demonstrated by a significant d...
Source: Neurotoxicology - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research