Protective effect of <i>Balanites aegyptiaca</i> on antioxidant defense system against adriamycin-induced cardiac toxicity in expermental mice

Abstract

Adriamycin is an anthracycline antibiotic that is widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, usefulness of this agent is limited
due to its cardiotoxic effects. Increased oxidative stress and antioxidant deficit have been suggested to play a major role in adriamycin induced cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure due to multiple treatments with adriamycin. The rationale of the present study was to evaluate the potential protective effect of Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) as a source of the natural antioxidants against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental mice. In present study, four groups (ten animals in each group) of experimental mice were used as follows: Group 1, mice not received both Adriamycin drug and B. aegyptiaca extract and served as a negative control group; Group 2, mice received Adriamycin intraperitoneally (2.5 mg/kg BW) in six equal injections over a period of two weeks for a cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg BW; Group 3, mice orally
administered with B. aegyptiaca extract (400 mg/kg BW), through an intragastric feeding tube over a period of three weeks; Group 4, mice
treated orally with B. aegyptiaca extract plus intraperitoneally adriamycin administration (2.5 mg/kg BW). Serum Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Creatine phosphokinase (CPK), Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), Lipid peroxide (LPO), total Nitric oxide (NO), erythrocyte lysate Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathion peroxidase (GPx) and plasma Catalase (CAT) were measured in all tested groups. The results showed that, Adriamycin elevated the activities of LDH, CPK, GOT, GPT, LPO and total NO content in the mice heart tissue. Also, Adriamycin drug reduced the activities of SOD, GPx and CAT. Pretreatment with B. aegyptiaca extract significantly (p < 0.05) prevented these alterations and restored the enzyme activities to near normal levels. Application of B. aegyptiaca extract with Adriamycin drug
either reduced or completely prevented its toxic effects. So, these findings demonstrate the cardio protective effect of B. aegyptiaca on antioxidant tissue defense system during Adriamycin induced cardiac damage in mice. Therefore it could be recommended for further investigation in this potentially new indication for clinical application.

Keywords: Adriamycin, Cardiotoxicity, natural antioxidant,
antioxidant enzymes.