ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Cancer is one of the leading causes of deathworldwide. Chemotherapy like as doxorubicin is the most common treatment procedure given to cancer patients. Doxorubicin is a cytotoxic drug that triggers the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) affect to body cells including taste bud cells to induced the expression of Metallothionein 3 (MT-3), eventually cause cell damage that leads to a metallic taste. Antioxidant therapy can be an alternative to overcome metallic taste as it counters ROS effect and lowers the expression of MT-3. The aim of this study is to evaluate MT-3 expression in the taste bud cells of male Wistar Rats after induction of doxorubicin combined with vitamin E and mung bean sprouts (Phaseolusradiatus L.) juice. Methods: 27 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g aged 3-4 months were divided into 3 groups randomly; control group, treatment group 1 (receiving doxorubicin and vitamin E), and treatment group 2 (receiving doxorubicin and mung bean sprouts juice). After 5 days, the rats were sacrificed, and the tongue was taken for immunohistochemistry analysis. Data were then analyzed by One Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Levene Test, and Oneway-ANOVA statistical test (p<0.05). Results: The MT-3 expression increases in the following order; control group (4.93), treatment group 2 (7.08), and treatment group 1 (9.95). Treatment group 1 and 2 both show remarkable increases of MT-3 expression compare to control. Conclusion: The induction of doxorubicin and antioxidant can increase the level of MT-3 expression.