Assessment of the ameliorative potential of A. cepa and its fractions on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats

Abstract

The assessment of the ameliorative potentials of A. cepa and its fractions on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats was evaluated in this study. 45 Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 9 groups of 5 animals each; as follows: group I, served as control and received 10 ml/kg body weight of 0.9% saline, group II, 10mg/kg body weight of doxorubicin, group III, 4 mg/kg body weight of vitamin E plus Dox. Group IV, 1000mg/kg body weight of crude extracts of A. cepa plus Dox. Group V, 1000mg/kg body weight of n-hexane fraction of A. cepa plus Dox. Group VI, 1000mg/kg body weight of DCM fraction of A. cepa plus Dox. Group VII, 1000mg/kg body weight of EA fraction of A.cepa plus Dox. Group VIII, 1000mg/kg body weight of methanol fraction of A. cepa plus Dox, and group IX, combinations of 1000mg/kg, 4mg/kg 10mg/kg body weight of crude extract of A. cepa, vitamin E and Dox respectively for 16 days. Groups I and II treatments lasted 14 days, while treatments for groups III-VIII lasted 16 days (making 14 day for respective treatments and addition 2 days for doxorubin administered once 48 hourly) before sacrificing. All substances in this study were administered orally except doxorubicin that was done intravenously. The results showed that doxorubicn administration (group II) significantly (p<0.05) elevated troponin and NO levels; CK and LDH activities, compared to the control group indicating cardiotoxicity. This cardiotoxic effect of doxorubincin was significantly reversed by administration of vitamin E, crude extract, DCM, n-hexane to groups III, IV, V and VI respectively. A significant (p<0.05) reduction of only NO was recorded with EA fraction, compared with group II (dox). Methanol fraction (group VIII) further escalated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity with a significantly (p<0.05) elevated myoglobulin and NO levels and CK activity. But the combined treatment with vitamin E, Crude extract and dox significantly (p<0.05) reduced cardiotoxic markers in this study except myoglobulin where a significant (p<0.05) elevation was recorded. It can be concluded that fresh A. cepa leaves extract possesses cardio-protective properties and may be a suitable cardio-protector against drug-induced cardiotoxicity in crude extract form, fractions of DCM and n-hexane but definitely not with methanol fraction as shown in this study.