Atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index in Doxorubicin–induced cardiotoxicity: impact of date palm extract

Abstract

Antitumor therapy usually destructs the physiological homeostasis and affects various organs during cancer treatment process. Doxorubicin (Dox) as a 40-year-old anthracycline antibiotic is a potent antineoplastic agent extensively used in the treatment of several malignancies. Nevertheless, its clinical application carries the risk of serious non-target tissues toxicities, in particular cardiomyopathy, which manifests as life-threatening congestive heart failure. Consequently, there is a much great interest to search for natural compounds with cardioprotective properties to decrease this cardiotoxic effect without decreasing its anticancer effect. In this context, the present study undertaken to investigate whether date palm fruit extract could offer protection against Dox-induced cardiomyopathy. Forty female albino rats used in this study and classified into four groups including control, date palm fruit extract, Dox, and treated groups. The results revealed that Dox administration showed changes in electrocardiography (ECG) pattern, increasing in troponin-I level and atherogenic indices with marked histopathological alterations. Meanwhile, pretreatment with date palm fruit extract attenuated myocardial toxicity induced by Dox. The current data have demonstrated that date palm fruit extract has cardioprotective effects against Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. These effects may be related to its high contents of flavonoids and its anti-atherogenic effects.