Losartan and/or Naringenin Ameliorates Doxorubicin Induced Cardiac, Hepatic and Renal Toxicities in Rats

Attenuation of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats by aqueous leaf-extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chromolaena odorata (L) King and Robinson and Tridax procumbens Linn are used in traditional medicine in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study investigated the potential protective role of aqueous leaf-extracts of Chromolaena odorata and Tridax procumbens against cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To this end, their impact on plasma markers of cardiac integrity, cardiac markers of oxidative stress, cardiac lipids and electrolyte profiles, and activities of cardiac ATPases, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase, were monitored in doxorubicin treated rats. Metformin (250 mg/kg body weight, orally) and both extracts (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, orally) were daily administered for 14 days; while cardiotoxicity was induced with doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, intra-peritioneally, once on the 12th day of study).

RESULTS

The plasma activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and AST of Test control were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the other groups. Also, the cardiac malondialdehyde, calcium, chloride, sodium, cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations of Test control were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the others. However, the cardiac concentrations of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, magnesium and potassium, and cardiac activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, Ca2+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, Na+,K+-ATPase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase of Test control were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the others.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-treatment with the extracts and metformin elicited a cardioprotective effect, as indicated by the prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiac oxidative stress and prevention of adverse alterations in plasma cardiac markers, cardiac lipids and electrolyte profiles, as well as improvement of the activities of cardiac ATPases, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase.

Enhanced antitumor activity of doxorubicin by naringenin and metformin in breast carcinoma: an experimental study

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Strategies for cancer chemotherapy commonly require the use of combination therapy for better outcomes of results. The present work is aimed to evaluate the potential of naringenin and metformin concomitant addition with doxorubicin chemotherapy against experimental breast carcinoma. The antitumor potential of drugs under the study was evaluated against methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced breast cancer in rats and 4T1 cells-induced orthotopic breast cancer mouse model. Parameters like tumor growth, body weight, survival rate, blood glucose, hematology, and histology were determined. There was a marked reduction in tumor weight and an observed decrease in tumor multiplicity by naringenin and metformin concomitant addition with doxorubicin against MNU-induced breast carcinoma. Likewise, naringenin and metformin with doxorubicin showed a significant reduction of tumor volume and tumor weight (p < 0.01) in 4T1-induced orthotopic mouse model as compared to the same dose of doxorubicin alone, suggesting combination treatment enhanced antitumor activity in vivo. Furthermore, histology of tumor biopsies presented the improved antitumor activity of doxorubicin via increasing tumor necrosis. Hematological parameters, body weight, and survival data presented remarkable safety of combination treatment without compromising efficacy using 50% lower dose of doxorubicin as compared to the large dose of doxorubicin alone. These results demonstrate that naringenin and metformin enhanced the antitumor effect of doxorubicin in animal models of breast carcinoma, and therefore can be useful as an adjunct treatment with doxorubicin to increase its effectiveness at the lower dose level for the treatment of cancer.

Combining naringenin and metformin with doxorubicin enhances anticancer activity against triple-negative breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) grows fast and represents poor prognosis and management. This work is aimed to determine the effect of concomitant use of naringenin and metformin with doxorubicin chemotherapy using in vitro and in vivo breast carcinoma models. Cell viability and xenograft study were performed using TNBC cell lines. The use of naringenin and metformin together with doxorubicin, have shown a significant increase in cytotoxicity when compared with the same concentration of doxorubicin alone in MDA-MB-231 cells and 4T1 cells in vitro. In the xenograft mouse model, a significant reduction of tumor volume and tumor weight was observed in contrast to a similar dose of doxorubicin alone; suggesting combining treatment enhanced antitumor activity in vivo. Besides, H&E and Ki-67 staining of tumor biopsies showed enhancement of the antitumor activity via increasing necrosis and inhibiting cell proliferation respectively. Additionally, there was no marked change observed in the organ weights, blood glucose, cardiac histology and cardiac Troponin I levels under the study treatment groups. The beneficial effects of using both the naringenin and metformin along with the lower dose of doxorubicin were evident from the reduced dose-related body weight loss and increase in cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β) compared to a large dose of doxorubicin alone. Thus, naringenin and metformin combination with doxorubicin found useful as an adjunct therapy to improve the effectiveness of doxorubicin at the lower dose against the breast carcinoma.