Melatonin increased vitamin C and antioxidant enzyme values in the plasma,heart, liver, and kidney of Adriamycin-treated rats

Adriamycin, an anticarcinogenic agent, causes excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These radicals may affect antioxidant defense systems. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on antioxidant enzyme activities and vitamin C in Adriamycin-treated rats. In the current study, rats were divided into three groups: control, Adriamycin, and melatonin+Adriamycin groups. The control group was intraperitoneally injected physiological saline (0.9%) as a placebo. The Adriamycin and melatonin+Adriamycin groups were administered Adriamycin (25 mg/kg body weight). The melatonin+Adriamycin group was pretreated with melatonin (0.5 mg/kg body weight). Vitamin C concentration and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GR), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were determined in the plasma, heart, liver, and kidneys in the Adriamycin-treated rats. The activities of CAT, SOD, GSH-Px, GR, and MPO decreased generally (between P < 0.045 and P < 0.006) with Adriamycin treatment, but these enzymes were near to the control values with melatonin treatment. In conclusion, melatonin inhibited Adriamycin-induced ROS production through supporting antioxidant enzyme systems in the plasma, heart, liver, and kidneys of rats, and thus may play an important role against Adriamycin toxicity.