Investigation of potential beneficial effects of bromelain against methotrexate-induced brain injury

Abstract

Purpose: Methotrexate is a folic acid antagonist used in the treatment of various diseases, especially some types of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. However, many side effects associated with methotrexate use, including neurotoxicity, are an important clinical problem. Bromelain obtained from the pineapple plant is an enzymatic mixture with radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation effects. Materials and methods: 28 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=7). The first group was kept as the control group. The second group was determined as the bromelain group and 200 mg/kg/day bromelain was given to the rats in this group for 14 days. The third group was determined as methotrexate group and a single dose of 20 mg/kg methotrexate was given to the rats in this group on the third day. The fourth group was determined as methotrexate + bromelain group, and the rats in the group were given methotrexate and bromelain in equivalent doses together. Results: Methotrexate administration did not cause any change in thiobarbituric acid reactive levels among groups, but caused a statistically significant decrease in reduced glutathione level and superoxide dismutase, glutathione and catalase activities compared to the control group. The administration of bromelain with methotrexate significantly increased the reduced glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity compared to the methotrexate group, but the increase in glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities was not statistically significant. Brain tissue was also evaluated histologically. It was observed that methotrexate administration did not cause a significant lesion formation in the brain histopathologically. Conclusion: Our findings support that the use of bromelain may benefit patients treated with methotrexate against neurological damage. © 2021, Pamukkale University. All rights reserved.