Effect of cyclophosphamide and morin-5’-sulfonic acid sodium salt, alone or in combination, on ADMA/DDAH pathway in rats

Effect of a Low Dose of Carvedilol on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Urinary Toxicity in Rats—A Comparison with Mesna

One of the major side effects of cyclophosphamide (CPX)—an alkylating anticancer drug that is still clinically used—is urotoxicity with hemorrhagic cystitis. The present study was designed to evaluate the ability of carvedilol to protect rats from cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity. Rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with CPX (200 mg/kg) and administered carvedilol (2 mg/kg) intragastrically a day before, at the day and a day after a single i.p. injection of CPX, with or without mesna (40, 80, and 80 mg/kg i.p. 20 min before, 4 h and 8 h after CPX administration, respectively). Pretreatment with carvedilol partly prevented the CPX-induced increase in urinary bladder and kidney index, and completely protects from CPX-evoked alterations in serum potassium and creatinine level, but did not prevent histological alterations in the urinary bladder and hematuria. However, carvedilol administration resulted in significant restoration of kidney glutathione (GSH) level and a decrease in kidney interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations. Not only did mesna improve kidney function, but it also completely reversed histological abnormalities in bladders and prevented hematuria. In most cases, no significant interaction of carvedilol with mesna was observed, although the effect of both drugs together was better than mesna given alone regarding plasma ADMA level and kidney IL-1β concentration. In conclusion, carvedilol did not counteract the injury caused in the urinary bladders but restored kidney function, presumably via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Protective Effect of Kolaviron on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Cardiac Toxicity in Rats

BACKGROUND

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a nitrogen mustard alkylating drug used for the treatment of chronic and acute malignant lymphomas, myeloma, leukemia, neuroblastoma, adenocarcinoma, retinoblastoma, breast carcinoma, and immunosuppressive therapy. Despite its vast therapeutic uses, it is known to cause severe cardiac toxicity. Kolaviron (KV), a Garcinia kola seed extract containing a mixture of flavonoids, is reputed for its antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the protective effect of KV on CP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

METHODS

Thirty rats were used, and they were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each. Group I received 2 mL/kg propylene glycol orally for 14 days; group II received CP (50 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneally [i.p.]) for 3 days; groups III and IV received 200 and 400 mg/kg/d KV, respectively, orally for 14 days and groups V and VI were pretreated with 200 and 400 mg/kg/d KV, respectively, orally for 14 days followed by CP (50 mg/kg/d, i.p.) for 3 days.

RESULTS

CP treatment resulted in a significantly lower food consumption and body weight in rats. The lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase enzymes in cardiac tissues of rats treated with CP were significantly higher. In cardiac tissues, 3-day doses of CP resulted in significantly higher heart weight, cardiac troponin I, myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and lower superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and reduced glutathione levels. Histological examination of cardiac tissues showed sign of necrosis of myocardium after CP treatment. However, administration of KV at 200 and 400 mg/kg for 14 days prior to CP treatment, increase food consumption, body weight, and attenuates the biochemical and histological changes induced by CP.

CONCLUSIONS

These results revealed that KV attenuates CP-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and preserving the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Flavonoids and Their Biological Secrets

Flavonoids are tricyclic polyphenolic compounds naturally occurring in plants. Being nature’s antioxidants flavonoids have been shown to reduce the damages induced by oxidative stress in cells. Besides being an antioxidant, flavonols are demonstrated to have anti-infective properties, i.e., antiviral, antifungal, anti-angiogenic, anti-tumorigenic, and immunomodulatory bioproperties. Plants use them as one of their defense mechanisms against radiation-induced DNA damage and also for fungal infections. The use of flavonols for fabrication of new drugs has been underway with objectives to develop safer and effective therapeutic agents. This review covers 15 flavonols for their structure, biological properties, role in plant metabolisms, and current research focused on computational drug design using flavonols for searching drug leads.

Protective effect of N-acetylcysteine on cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an oxazaphosphorine nitrogen mustard alkylating drug used for the treatment of chronic and acute leukemias, lymphoma, myeloma, and cancers of the breast and ovary. It is known to cause severe cardiac toxicity. This study investigated the protective effect of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) on CP-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. CP resulted in a significant increase in serum aminotransferases, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) enzymes, asymmetric dimethylarginine and tumor necrosis factor-α and significant decrease in total nitrate/nitrite(NOx). In cardiac tissues, a single dose of CP (200mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in significant increase in malondialdehyde and NOx and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione content, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities. Interestingly, Administration of NAC (200mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days prior to CP attenuates all the biochemical changes induced by CP. These results revealed that NAC attenuates CP-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative and nitrosative stress and preserving the activity of antioxidant enzymes.