Krill oil attenuates doxorubicin induced cognitive impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress markers in the brains of wistar rats

Chemobrain is a typical adverse effect of chemotherapeutics agents that affects 15-80 percent of cancer patients. Doxorubicin, an antineoplastic drug, has been associated with severe neurotoxicity manifested as a loss in cognitive skills, most likely due to oxidative stress in brain. Krill oil (KO) is a unique, naturally occurring nutrient derived from a type of Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba that is commonly used as a dietary supplement and is well known for anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, anti-depressant and improvement of cognitive function, protection of neurodegeneration, neuroprotective and antioxidant qualities. The current study was aimed at evaluating krill oil's potential neuroprotection and memory improving benefits against Doxorubicin-induced cognitive and neurobiological defects. A novel object recognition task and Morris water maze test were conducted to evaluate the protective effect of krill oil against doxorubicin-induced memory deficits in rats. In female Wistar rats, cognitive impairment was produced by administering ten cycles of Doxorubicin (2.5mg/kg, intra peritoneal, once every five days). Krill oil (50mg/kg and 100mg/kg) was given orally starting one week prior to the doxorubicin treatment and continued throughout the study. Krill treatment (50mg/kg and 100mg/kg) significantly protected against Doxorubicin induced memory impairment. Co-administration of both doses of krill oil resulted in significantly lower the levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), and acetyl cholinesterase activity. Furthermore, doxorubicin-induced oxidative and inflammatory insults in the frontal cortex and hippocampal areas of the brain were prevented by krill oil. In conclusion, krill oil may be a promising adjuvant treatment option for reducing adverse effects associated to doxorubicin treatment.