Protective effect of misoprostol in methotrexate induced liver and kidney damage

Methotrexate, a folat antagonist, is an antineoplastic drug. methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity has been reported in previous studies. scientific evidence achieved from previous studies suggests that misoprostol has had a tissue protective effect in such toxic damage cases; thereby misoprostol could be an alternative prophylactic agent against methotrexate–induced hepatotoxicity. a total of twenty-four male wistar albino rats were included in this study. animals were equally divided into four groups as follows: controls, only mtx (20 mg/kg, i.p, single dose) given group, mtx (20 mg/kg, i.p, single dose) plus misoprostol (200μg/kg, orally, 5 days) administered group and only misoprostol (200μg/kg, orally, 5 days) given group. at the end of the study, liver tissues and blood samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. according to the biochemical findings, a lipid peroxidation marker, mda levels were significantly increased in mtx treated group to control and by the use of mp, this increase was found reduced. antioxidant. enzymes, cat and sod levels were significantly decreased with mtx and increased with mp. according to the biochemical findings of kidney tissue, mda levels were increased; cat and sod levels were decreased in mtx group. unlikely, mda levels were significantly decreased, cat and sod levels were raised but only cat levels were significantly increased in mp treated group. parallel to biochemical findings, in histological examinations of liver and kidney tissues, there were evidences as the indicator of oxidative damage. the changes in mtx group were significant to control, and these changes were decreased in mtx group treated with mp. as a result, mp can be effective in liver and kidney injury in mtx treated rats.