Effect of antioxidants on cisplatin induced delay in gastric emptying in rats.

Cisplatin causes severe nausea and vomiting and also suppresses gastric emptying. Antioxidants have been shown to exert antiemetic effects against cisplatin induced emesis. In the present study, the effect of antioxidants-glutathione, N-2-(mercaptopropionyl)glycine (tiopronin), vitamin E, vitamin C and a combination of vitamin E and vitamin C was investigated against cisplatin induced delay in gastric emptying, in a rat model. Pretreatment with these antioxidants significantly reversed the cisplatin induced delay in gastric emptying. This effect of antioxidants may help in the improvement of other accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and also contribute to their antiemetic efficacy against cytotoxic drugs.