Protective effect of Hypericum hircinum on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Oxidative stress is the main factor in doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity. Wistar rats received either DOX (3 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) every other day or combination of Hypericum hircinum (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹, p.o.) and DOX or H. hircinum (200 mg kg⁻¹, p.o.) extract alone for 2 weeks. Cardiotoxicity was assessed by recording changes in ECG, heart rate and measuring the levels of cardiac marker enzymes--lactic acid dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, the antioxidant defence enzymes--reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidative value (LPO) at the end of treatment schedule. Treatment with H. hircinum significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the levels of LPO and marker enzymes, increased the levels of GSH and SOD, reversed the changes in ECG and prevented the decrease in heart weight in DOX-treated group. The results suggest that H. hircinum has the potential to prevent the cardiotoxic effects induced by DOX.