The Potential Protective Effect of Berberine Chloride in Doxorubicin Induced Cognitive Impairment in Rats"

Abstract

Chemotherapy is a life‐saving treatment for cancer patients however, causes long‐term side effects that diminish the survivors’ quality of life. Chemobrain is a common side effect among cancer patients who experience memory impairment, language difficulty and slow processing speed during or shortly after chemotherapy. It is classified by the National Cancer Institute as one of the most debilitating sequelae of cancer therapy. Doxorubicin is a prominent member of the anthracycline anticancer agents, however, its treatment is associated with multi-organ toxicities in the form of cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and central neurotoxicity perceived as cognitive decline. Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered the key contributors to DOX-induced cognitive decline. BBR is a natural alkaloid and is currently among the most studied phytochemicals due to its outstanding anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects, in addition to its neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental design: Ninety albino male (150-200 g) rats were randomly divided into six groups (15 rats per group) and treated for 4 consecutive weeks as follows: i) Group-1 (control group): Rats were given normal saline intraperitoneally (I.P.) (150µL/ rat) once/week, and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; the vehicle of BBR; 5 times/week) (150µL/ rat) was given by oral gavage.