Protective Effects of <i>Ferula Asafoetida</i> Against Subacute Doxorubicin‐Induced Hepatotoxicity as Well as Nephrotoxicity Biomarkers and Histopathology

The anticancer drug, doxorubicin induces multiorgan toxicity, and the liver and kidneys are no exceptions. Since the herb, Ferula asafetida, is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, the objective was to assess its possible ameliorative activity as a hydroethanolic extract (FaE) against doxorubicin hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats. In vitro, FaE phytochemical screening, evaluated the total phenolic content and antioxidant potential using the DPPH assay. In vivo testing, entailed administration of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg, bolus dose) alone or combined with FaE (100-300 mg/kg orally, daily for 28-days). Animal weights, liver biomarkers (total bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP) and kidney biomarkers (serum creatinine, urea, and BUN) were measured and liver and kidney tissues were scrutinized histopathologically. Phytochemical analysis of FaE divulged alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, coumarins, and phlobatannins. The total phenolic content of the dry plant extract was 105.4 ± 3.7 mg/g equivalent of gallic acid. FaE (1000 µg/ml) expressed antioxidant activity (81.4%) that was <9.0% lower than ascorbic acid. In vivo, doxorubicin induced a weight loss that was counteracted by FaE. The plant extract also dose-dependently reversed doxorubicin boosted serum concentrations of hepatorenal biomarkers plus the histopathological injury. This study endorses a protective activity of FaE against doxorubicin hepatorenal toxicity.