Protective Effect of Pomegranate Extract on Cisplatin-induced Ototoxicity

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of pomegranate extract (PE) as a protection agent against cisplatin ototoxicity. Materials and Methods: Healthy Wistar rats (n = 18) were randomly divided into three groups. The rats in group 1 received neither cisplatin nor PE. The rats in group 2 underwent cisplatin injections for three days. PE (100 µL/day) was administered via gavage to group 3 for one day before cisplatin injections and 3 days together with cisplatin injections. Before and 3 days after injections, the ototoxic effect was measured with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). After DPOAE measurement, the animals were sacrificed, and the right cochlea were harvested. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a chemiluminescence method. Results: DPOAE amplitudes decreased significantly in group 2 between baseline and third day of injection at the frequencies tested (3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz) (p 0.05). ROS levels were significantly lower in group 3 that received cisplatin plus systemic PE, compared to group 2 (p<0.01). However, the ROS levels were higher in group 3 than in the group 1. Conclusions: Our results indicate that systemic PE decreased the ROS levels in the cochlea and reduced the DPOAE amplitudes after cisplatin injection.