Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of short-term usage of fresh pomegranate juice (FPJ) on ototoxicity after cisplatin-based chemo-irradiation

MATERIALS and METHODS: The study was carried out on 56 adult Wistar Albino rats, which were divided into 8 groups (n: 7 for each group). The first group was accepted as the sham control group. However, rats in the seven experimental groups were treated with FPJ; cisplatin; irradiation; irradiation plus FPJ; cisplatin plus FPJ; both cisplatin and irradiation; and combined use of cisplatin, irradiation, and FPJ, respectively. Ototoxicity was evaluated by Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOA), histopathology, and paracochlear protein carbonyl content.

RESULTS: The results of the study showed that cisplatin, irradiation, and both cisplatin and irradiation treatments affected hair cells dramatically. However, the results of cisplatin plus FPJ and combined use of cisplatin, irradiation, and FPJ indicated that FPJ plays an important role in protecting hair cells in the inner ear. Additionally, the findings of signal-noise ratio and protein carbonyl values also supported the results stated above.

CONCLUSION: Fresh pomegranate juice treatment can be a supportive agent to reduce hair cell injury in the inner ear of patient treated by cisplatin, radiotherapy, or cisplatin-based chemo-irradiation. However, more performance is necessary for further studies, especially on long-term treatment with FPJ.