Protective effect of Lycium barbarum on doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity

Abstract

The objective of this work was to explore the hypothesis that Lycium barbarum (LB) may be protective against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity through antioxidant-mediated mechanisms. Male SD rats were treated with distilled water or a water extract of LB (25 mg/kg, p.o.) daily and saline or DOX (5 mg/kg, i.v.) weekly for 3 weeks. Mortality, general condition and body weight were observed during the experiment. DOX-induced cardiotoxicity was assessed by electrocardiograph, heart antioxidant activity, serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and histopathological change. The DOX group showed higher mortality (38%) and worse physical characterization. Moreover, DOX caused myocardial injury manifested by arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities in ECG (increased QT and ST intervals and ST elevation), a decrease of heart antioxidant activity, an increase of serum CK and AST, as well as myocardial lesions. Pretreatment with LB significantly prevented the loss of myofibrils and improved the heart function of the DOX-treated rats as evidenced from lower mortality (13%), normalization of antioxidative activity and serum AST and CK, as well as improving arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities. These results suggested that LB elicited a typical cardioprotective effect on DOX-related oxidative stress. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxic study showed the antitumor activity of DOX was not compromised by LB. It is possible that LB could be used as a useful adjunct in combination with DOX chemotherapy.

Antioxidant, Lipid Lowering, and Membrane Stabilization Effect of Sesamol against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Experimental Rats

“…Administration of DOX at cumulative dose (15 mg/kg) increases the lipid peroxidation and depleted the endogenous antioxidants in the myocardium. Similar biochemical changes have been reported by several other studies [20, 21]. In the present study, generation of lipid peroxidation is conformed by elevated level of TBARS in DOX administered rat.…”

Oroxylum indicum root bark extract prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage by restoring redox balance

“…While studying the protective effect of Lycium barbarum on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, intravenous injection of doxorubicin significantly increased ST deviation and T-wave amplitude in electrocardiographic analysis. Pre-treatment with the extract helped to reduce the doxorubicin induced increase in ST [49], though to a limited extent. ST segment depression with prolonged ST interval is constantly noticed in rat ECGs associated with studies of doxorubicin-induced cardiac damage [50], [51].…”

In VitroProtective Effects ofLycium barbarumBerries Cultivated in Umbria (Italy) on Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

“…Interestingly it has been reported a protective effect of LBBs against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through antioxidant-mediated mechanisms. In particular LBBs significantly prevents the loss of myofibrils and improves the heart function of the doxorubicin-treated rats [12]. Finally Wang et al [13] demonstrated that sulfated LBB polysaccharides significantly inhibit the infectivity of Newcastle disease virus to chicken embryo fibroblast.…”