Vol. 10, Issue 1, Part B (2026)

This present research work was conducted on 40 Wistar rats to study the methotrexate (MTX) toxicity and ameliorative effects of hesperidin. Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 different groups with 5 male and 5 female in each group. The group were numbered as group I to IV. Group I treated as a control and received 1% CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) in distilled water thorough orally for 28 days. Group II treated with single dose of MTX at the dose rate of 20mg/kg/b.wt on 21^st day of study via i.p. Whereas group III received hesperidin at the dose rate of 100mg/kg/b.wt orally for 28 days with single dose of MTX @20mg/kg on 21^st day of study via i.p. and group IV 200mg/kg/b.wt orally for 28 days and single dose of MTX @20mg/kg on 21^st day of study via i.p. All the surviving rats were sacrificed on by high dose of sodium pentothal 29th day of the experiment for necropsy. The appropriate tissue samples have been collected, fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, and histopathologically 85 examined in detail. Methotrexate group showed necrosis, congestion, degeneration of the renal tubules and infiltration of inflammatory cells in interstitial spaces of kidney. In liver congestion of central vein, dilatation of sinusoids, degenerative changes in hepatocytes and fatty changes were seen in methotrexate treated group. Methotrexate along with hesperidin treated female and male rats (group III & IV) showed improvement in histopathological lesion in liver and kidney. This study suggests hesperidin have a protective effect against MTX.