Cisplatin, a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, causes ototoxicity in a large percentage of
patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of epicatechin (EC) as an
otoprotective agent to prevent cisplatin toxicity and to investigate the molecular mechanism
of EC. The effects of EC on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity were investigated in a cochlear
organ of Corti-derived cell line, HEI-OC1 and in a rat model. In addition, signaling
mechanisms were investigated, specifically those involving MAP kinase. Cisplatin induced …