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Chemotherapy with adriamycin (ADR) is limited by its iron-mediated pro-oxidant toxicity. Because melatonin (MLT) is a broad spectrum antioxidant, we investigated the ability of MLT to control iron, its binding proteins, and the oxidative damage induced by ADR.

ADR was given as single i.p. dose of 10 mg kg⁻¹ body weight into male rats. MLT at a dose of 15 mg kg⁻¹ was injected daily for 5 days before ADR treatment followed by another injection for 5 days. Biochemical methods were used for this investigation.

ADR injection caused elevations in plasma creatine kinase isoenzyme, lactic dehydrogenase, and aminotransferases, iron, ferritin, and transferrin. These changes were associated with increases in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation as well as decreases in glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity, while glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px …