continuous training and crocin supplementation alleviates doxorubicin-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in male rats

Background: chemotherapy drugs can cause liver damage by causing hepatotoxicity. objectives: this study aimed to determine the interactive effect of continuous training and crocin supplementation on hepatocyte apoptosis in male rats induced by doxorubicin. methods: in this experimental study, 40 wistar rats were randomly assigned to: (1) healthy, (2) doxorubicin (dox), (3) dox + crocin (cr), (4) dox + continuous training (ct), and (5) dox + ct + cr. group 1 received normal saline daily; groups 2 to 5 received (7 × 2 mg/kg) dox intraperitoneal; groups 3 and 5 received 10 mg/kg crocin orally on a daily basis, and groups 4 and 5 were trained 5 days/week (60 - 70 of maximum speed) for 8 weeks. results: the dox group had the highest mean percentage of apoptotic hepatocytes (64.33 ± 6.02) compared to other groups (p < 0.05). in contrast, tissue apoptosis was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in all intervention groups: dox + ct (30.67 ± 4.04%), dox + cr (18 ± 2.64%), and dox + ct + cr (13.67 ± 1.52%); however, the improvement was greater in the group receiving crocin. conclusions: continuous training, cr, and their combination significantly reduced hepatocyte apoptosis in male rats exposed to dox-induced toxicity. however, a greater reduction in liver tissue apoptosis was recorded for the crocin-treated groups.