Abstract
The aim of the present investigation is to determine whether the quercetin in combination with cisplatin can ameliorate cisplatin-induced clastogenesis and apoptosis in the bone marrow cells of mice. The scoring of chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei and mitotic activity were undertaken in the current study as markers of clastogenicity. Apoptosis was analysed by the Annexin V-propidium iodide assay and the occurrence of a hypodiploid DNA peak. Oxidative stress markers such as bone marrow lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione were assessed as a possible mechanism underlying this amelioration. Quercetin was neither clastogenic nor apoptogenic in mice at doses equivalent to 50 or 100 mg/kg for 2 days. Pre-treatment of mice with quercetin significantly reduced cisplatin-induced clastogenesis and apoptosis in the bone marrow cells and these effects were dose and time dependent. Prior administration of quercetin ahead of cisplatin challenge ameliorated oxidative stress markers. Overall, this study provides for the first time that quercetin has a protective role in the abatement of cisplatin-induced clastogenesis and apoptosis in the bone marrow cells of mice that resides, at least in part, in its antioxidant effects. Therefore, quercetin can be a good candidate to decrease the deleterious effects of cisplatin in the bone marrow cells of cancer patients treated with this drug.