Maltol, a naturally occurring flavor enhancer, ameliorates cisplatin-induced apoptosis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation by modulating ROS-mediated oxidative stress

•This article is the first to describe the protective effect of maltol on cisplatin-induced intestinal injury in vitro and in vivo.•This study clarifies that cisplatin stimulates the body to release excessive ROS to induce oxidative stress, which in turn triggers the activation of the inflammasome NLRP3, resulting in the occurrence of pyroptosis.•This study is the first to explore the protective effect of maltol on intestinal tract from the mechanism of oxidative stress, pyroptosis and apoptosis.