PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ANTIOXIDANT AGENT AND FICUS RELIGIOSA AGAINST DOXORUBICIN-INDUCED MYOCARDIAL TOXICITY IN RATS

Abstract

To determine the possible cardioprotective effect of Ficus religiosa bark (FRB) against doxorubicin (Dox) induced myocardial toxicity in rats. Cardiotoxicity was induced by administration of Dox (2.5 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) in 6 equal injections alternatively for two weeks. Curcumin (200 & 400 mg/kg, po), and methanol extract of FRB dose (200, and 400 mg/kg for two weeks, po) were administered as pretreatment and then cardiotoxicity induced with Dox. Thirty six hour after the last treatment like 2nd week group II, 4th week of group I, III, IV,V and VI of animals were anesthetized under light diethyl ether and withdrawn blood sample from retro-orbital sinus of rats for estimations of biochemical parameters like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), biochemical parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) antioxidant enzymes like antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and histological analysis. Dox induced cardiomyopathy due to antioxidant deficit and increased level biomarkers. Pretreatment with the curcumin and FRB extracts a significant protect myocardial toxicity by significantly reduced the elevated level of biomarker enzymes like CK-MB, LDH and CPK and biochemical parameters such as AST, ALT and ALP compared to Dox treated group. Curcumin and extracts a significant increase of the reduced level of GSH, SOD and CAT and decreased the elevated level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in cardiac tissue. It has been concluded on basis of biochemical parameters and histopathology reports to FRB extract could be ascribed to cardioprotective effect.