Abstract

IMPACT OF CISPLATIN, VITAMIN E AND A SEPARATELY AND IN COMBINATION ON RAT TISSUE KEY ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY LEVELS INVOLVED IN ENERGY METABOLISM

K. Harish Babu*

ABSTRACT

Cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, causes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, limiting its clinical use. This study examined the in vivo effects of cisplatin on mitochondrial enzymes ATPase and cytochrome-c oxidase in rat tissues like brain, heart, liver and kidney, and evaluated the protective roles of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and vitamin A. Rats received cisplatin (1.0 mg/kg), α-tocopherol (400 mg/kg), vitamin A (50 IU/kg), or their combinations. After 24 hours, tissues were collected, and the activities of total ATPase and cytochrome-c oxidase were measured using standard biochemical assays. Cisplatin significantly decreased the activities of both enzymes across all tissues, with the most pronounced reductions observed in the kidney and liver. Co-treatment withα-tocopherol restored enzyme activities more effectively than vitamin A. These results suggest that cisplatin disrupts energy metabolism by inhibiting key mitochondrial enzymes, and that α-tocopherol, and to a lesser extent vitamin A, can preserve mitochondrial function. These findings support their potential as adjunct therapies to ameliorate cisplatin-induced toxicity.

Keywords: Cisplatin, ?-Tocopherol, Vitamin A, ATPase, Cytochrome-c-oxidase, Oxidative stress, Antioxidants, Rat tissues.