Modulatory Effect of Quercetin Against Etoposide Induced Oxidative Damage in the Endometrial Tissue of Albino Rat

Chemotherapy, while effective for cancer treatment, often induces significant side effects, including oxidative stress, which can damage non-cancerous tissues. Etoposide, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, exemplifies this challenge due to its generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that contribute to toxicity in rapidly dividing cells, including endometrial tissue. In this study albino rats were randomly assigned to different groups: group I (control), group II – IV (etoposide-treated, 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally respectively), while the animals in group V received co-treatment of 5 mg/kg etoposide and quercetin 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally) were administered for seven days. To achieve our aims, the evaluation of some biochemical parameters such as ROS, MDA levels, SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, GR activities, Cyt C, caspase 3, caspase 9, were carried out using ELISA method, and gene expression studies for Nrf2 and iNOS were performed using molecular techniques. The administration of etoposide causes significant increase in ROS and MDA level confirming generation of oxidative stress, also there is a concomitant reduction int the antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, GR), it also causes significant increase in apoptotic markers like Cyt C, caspase 3, caspase 9, iNOS, Nrf 2. Disruptions in estrogen, LH and FSH levels. Quercetin co-treatment significantly mitigated oxidative stress, restored antioxidant enzyme activities, and normalized hormone levels and apoptotic markers. The findings suggest that etoposide-induced oxidative damage in endometrial tissue is primarily driven by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and depletion of endogenous antioxidants. The study highlights the potential of quercetin as a co-therapeutic agent to mitigate chemotherapy-induced reproductive toxicity, it demonstrates significant protective effects against etoposide-induced oxidative damage in the endometrial tissue of albino rats. Quercetin’s ability to reduce oxidative stress, restore antioxidant defences, and maintain hormonal integrity underscores its potential as an adjunct therapy to improve the tolerability of chemotherapeutic regimens while preserving reproductive health.