Nicotinamide attenuates cyclophosphamide‐induced hepatotoxicity in SD rats by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis

Abstract Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a widely used anticancer and immunosuppressant drug. Nevertheless, clinical utilization of CP is limited due to considerable adverse effects and toxicities. Nicotinamide (NMD) is a micronutrient and the effect of NMD against CP‐induced hepatotoxicity is yet unexplored. The present study was designed to evaluate the chemoprotective effect of NMD against CP‐induced hepatic injury in Sprague‐Dawley rats. Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of CP (30 mg/kg/day) for 10 consecutive days by intraperitoneal injection. The chemoprotective effect of NMD treatment (200 mg/kg) against CP‐induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated by the oxidative stress, liver function, histopathological changes, and DNA damage. NMD cotreatment significantly reduced CP‐induced oxidative stress, histological changes, and apoptosis in the liver. The present study demonstrated that NMD treatment ameliorated CP‐induced hepatic damage by improving the antioxidant system and reducing DNA damage. The present findings revealed that NMD supplementation might be useful to reduce CP‐associated hepatotoxicity, and thereby can increase the therapeutic utility of CP.