In male Wistar rats given MDMA (ecstasy) orally for 56 days, the drug caused oxidative damage, inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and cell death in the brain, especially in the hippocampus. Co-administration of the antioxidant glutathione partially reversed these harmful effects at moderate MDMA doses by restoring antioxidant defenses, reducing inflammation, and preserving hippocampal structure. However, at higher MDMA doses, glutathione's protective effects were much weaker, indicating that additional treatments are needed to address excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction.
In adult male Wistar rats, the recreational drug MDMA (ecstasy) caused heart damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, abnormal blood lipids, and disrupted blood cell counts. The antioxidants quercetin and vitamin E, given separately, each reduced these harmful effects. When given together, quercetin and vitamin E provided the greatest protection, nearly restoring normal heart tissue, blood chemistry, and blood cell levels. Neither antioxidant alone altered normal rats' baseline measurements. The combined treatment suggests a potential approach for mitigating MDMA-related heart and blood toxicity.