Mitigation of Doxorubicin-induced Cardiovascular Damage Using Commelina diffusa Extract in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Doxorubicin, which is also called an anthracycline antibiotic, is widely applied in the treatment of cancers of different types, including leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors. However, the mechanism underlying doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and myocardial cell death. Another mechanism is by inhibition of mitochondrial ATP production. This study determined the mitigation of doxorubicin-induced cardiovascular damage using Commelina diffusa extract in Wistar Rats. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing 160 and 200g were purchased from the Biochemistry Animal House, University of Port Harcourt. The rats were acclimatized for weeks, given free access to rat feed and water. The rats were then divided into 5 groups on the basis of body weight. Five groups of five rats per group. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal and negative controls. Rats in groups 3-5 were induced with doxorubicin and treated with the extract at 166mg/kg, 250mg/kg, and 500mg/kg for 21 days. All analyses were carried out based on standard methods. All Data are represented as means ± error of mean (M±E) and were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 20.0 USA. Descriptive statistics was done by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparison was done using Turkey Post hoc at (p≤0.05) confidence interval. The cardiac IL-6, C-reactive protein, CTn-I and CTn-T of the negative control were 153.06±0.03 pg/dl, 83.64±0.03 mg/ml, 472.25±0.03pg/mL, and 442.64±0.04pg/Ml respectively while those treated with extract at 500mg/kg for 21 days were 117.93±0.02pg/dl, 41.04±0.01mg/ml, 447.08±0.03pg/mL, and 410.72±0.03 pg/Ml respectively. The MDA and GSH levels of the negative control were 23.83±0.02 mmol/l and 73.63±0.03 μg/mg protein, respectively. The mean CAT and SOD activities of group 5 were 96.06±0.03 mg/promin and 9.04±0.03 mg/g respectively. The IL-6, C-reactive protein, CTn-I, CTn-T, CAT and SOD activities of group 5 treated at 500mg/kg for 21 days were significantly ameliorated. Aqueous extract of Commelina diffusa ameliorated cardiovascular damage facilitated by doxorubicin exposure, hence could serve as a herbal agent in the treatment of cardiovascular damage.