Protective effect of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) against doxorubicin-induced oxidative cardiotoxicity in rats

Abstract

SummaryBackgroundDoxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent. It is associated with serious dose-limiting cardiotoxicity, which is at least partly caused by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Supplementations with bilberries were effective in reducing oxidative stress in many tissue injuries due their high content of antioxidants. The present study investigated the potential protective effect of bilberry extract against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.Material/MethodsRats were treated orally with a methanolic extract of bilberry for 10 days. DOX was injected intraperitoneally on day 7. Twenty-four hours after the last bilberry administration, rats were subjected to ECG study. Blood was then withdrawn and cardiac tissues were dissected for assessment of oxidative stress and cardiac tissue injury. Cardiac tissues were also subjected to histopathological examination.ResultsBilberry extract significantly inhibited DOX-provoked reduced glutathione depletion and accumulation of oxidized glutathione, malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls in cardiac tissues. This was accompanied by significant amelioration of reduced cardiac catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities; and increased cardiac myeloperoxidase activity in response to DOX challenge. Pretreatment with bilberry significantly guarded against DOX-induced increase in serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase and creatine kinase-MB, as well as the level of troponin I. Bilberry alleviated ECG changes in rats treated with DOX and attenuated its pathological changes.ConclusionsBilberry protects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. This can be attributed, at least in part, to its antioxidant activity.

Functional and Structural Assessment of the Effect of Human Umbilical Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiotoxicity

“…Similar results were obtained by previous studies [Richard et al, 2011;Colak et al, 2012;Warpe et al, 2015]. ECG revealed significant prolongation of QT interval in DOX-administered groups (II, III) as reported by Rahimi_Balaei et al [2010]; Ashour et al [2011] and Warpe et al [2015]; denoting delayed repolarization and a negative chronotropic effect [Gandhi et al, 2013] or metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities associated with developed heart failure [Hunter et al, 2008].…”

Prophylactic effects of ellagic acid and rosmarinic acid on doxorubicin‐induced neurotoxicity in rats

“…The reduced GSH brain content might be due to GSH consumption in DOX‐induced lipid peroxidation . The elevated TNF‐α and Casp‐3 by DOX treatment are in agreement with Refs.…”

Thymol and Carvacrol Prevent Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiotoxicity by Abrogation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Rats

“…Hence, the therapeutic effects of our protectants will start after 2 days of DOX injection, but in our study we stopped administration of protectants after 2 days of DOX injection due to the preventive study. Moreover, many published reports suggested 2 days’ regimen after DOX administration together with 5 or 7 days’ regimen before DOX administration as preventive study . The dose and duration of treatment were also based on pilot studies performed in our laboratory and showed the maximal effects for the selected doses (data not shown).…”