Ficus sur methanol leaf extract ameliorated doxorubicin-induced cardio-renal damage in Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Doxorubicin is an effective and still-used antineoplastic agent. However, the clinical use of doxorubicin is marred by life-threatening cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Free radicals have been implicated in the toxicity of doxorubicin. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical contents and protective effects of methanol extract of Ficus sur (MEFS) in doxorubicin-induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats, using biomarkers of cardiac, renal functions and oxidative stress as indicators. Phytochemical analyses revealed that MEFS is rich in tannins, alkaloid, saponins, flavonoids, but low in steroids. Acute toxicity studies show that MEFS was non-toxic up to 5000mg/kg b.w of Wistar rats. Administration of doxorubicin led to a significant (P< 0.05) increase in Creatine kinase (CK-MB), troponin, creatinine, urea and MDA concentrations. Sodium and potassium concentrations were not significantly (P>0.05) affected. Cardiac and renal superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione (GSH) were also significantly reduced. Results also show that pre-administration of MEFS was cardio- and nephroprotective in doxorubicin oxidative damage as evidenced by significant (P<0.05) reduction of elevated troponin, CK-MB, creatinine and urea concentrations. Concentrations of renal and cardiac SOD, catalase and GSH were also significantly (p<0.05) increased by MEFS compared to doxorubicin-treated group. Cardiac and renal MDA concentrations were significantly reduced. It may be concluded that protective effects of MEFS on doxorubicin toxicity may be due to the antioxidant properties of MEFS.