Mitigating Chloramphenicol Induced Liver Toxicity: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Astaxanthin and Quercetin

Background: This study investigates the efficacy of Astaxanthin (AXN) and Quercetin (QRN) as potential therapeutic agents for mitigating Chloramphenicol (CMP)-induced liver toxicity. Despite Chloramphenicol's broad-spectrum antibiotic properties, its clinical utility is hampered by hepatotoxic side effects. Our research seeks to assess the impact of Chloramphenicol -induced mitochondrial toxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and gene expression alterations in HepG2 liver cells. The primary aim is to mitigate Chloramphenicol induced liver toxicity through combination therapy, utilizing the potent antioxidants Astaxanthin and Quercetin. Methods and Results: The IC50 values for Chloramphenicol, Astaxanthin, and Quercetin were determined to assess mitochondrial toxicity throughthe measurement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) emission intensity. The study also examined the effectiveness of Astaxanthin and Quercetin in a ROS assay and evaluated their impact on the mRNA expression of genes including SURF1, SOD2, NRF1, TFAM, and UCP2 using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The findings from the study provide significant evidence towards the therapeutic benefits of Astaxanthin and Quercetin in counteracting Chloramphenicol -induced liver toxicity, showcasing their potential as antioxidants for hepatoprotection. Conclusion: This research adds to the accumulating evidence that supports the utilization of antioxidants like Astaxanthin and Quercetin in mitigating drug-induced liver toxicity. It paves the way for further investigations into the specific molecular mechanisms underlying these effects and encourages the exploration of additional antioxidants in future for similar therapeutic applications.