The Role of Vitamin C in Photosensitivity Attenuation of Antimicrobial Quinolones Group

Photosensitivity is a common side effect of ciprofloxacin that appears after exposure to UV radiations. The aim of the present study is to investigate the damaging effect of ultraviolet-A radiation (3.96kJ/m; 60min, 45min, and 30min) on the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin (100mg/kg; p.o; daily for 7 consecutive days) in Esch. coli infected rats. Photosensitivity was induced due to exposure of the dorsal side of shaved rats to UV-A lamp radiation. The adverse effects related to skin photosensitivity and hepatic toxicity were evaluated and the protective role of Vit. C (180mg/kg; daily for 7consecutive days) against UV-A induced oxidative stress was clarified. Our results showed that UV-A has induced skin tissue injury in rats denoted by skin scoring results (redness, edema, hemorrhage, oozing and shrinkage), and induced oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in the skin homogenate and altered total leukocyte count in serum, and liver function parameters such as serum albumin and total protein levels. Photosensitivity criteria induced by ciprofloxacin were bound to be proportional to UV-A exposure time. However, oral administered Vit. C exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by normalizing skin contents of lipid peroxide (MDA), glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and the total leukocytic count (TLC). Moreover, by testing serum total protein and albumin levels were they increased, whereas the relative organs weights of spleen and thymus were normalized by Vit.C. These results were confirmed to histopathological alterations in skin result. The present study concludes that orally administered Vit.C has prophylactic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against ciprofloxacin-induced phototoxicity on exposure to UV-A radiation in Esch. coli systematic infected rats.