Therapeutic Potential of Quercetin on A Rat Model of Radiation-Induced Brain Neurotoxicities: Insights from Behavioural and Biochemical Analyses
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Radiation therapy (RT), while effective for cancer, can cause significant neurotoxicity. This study evaluated the neuroprotective potential of quercetin against radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) in an adult male Wistar rat model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 42 adult male rats were randomised into control, RT, RT+vehicle (Tween), and RT+quercetin (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) groups. The RT-treated animals received eight fractions of 40 Gy cranial radiation. Quercetin was administered daily for four weeks in the appropriate groups. Spatial memory was assessed via the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Serum biomarkers of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-2, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hippocampal histopathology [cornu ammonis (CA1), dentate gyrus (DG)] were analysed.
RESULTS: RT significantly impaired spatial learning. This deficit was significantly ameliorated by all tested quercetin doses during the training trials. RT induced a marked increase in serum TNF-α levels, from a baseline of 113.8 ± 19.4 ng/L in the control group to 257.8 ± 28.8 ng/L (P=0.005). Quercetin treatment effectively reversed this proinflammatory response by significantly reducing TNF-α concentrations at all administered doses. The 2.5 mg/kg dose reduced levels to 121.7 ± 19.5 ng/L (P=0.008). A key finding was the potent effect of the 5 mg/kg dose on oxidative damage, as it produced the most significant reduction in MDA levels compared…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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