Therapeutic Effect of Parthenolide on Paclitaxel-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used chemotherapy agent.
• PTX can cause significant cardiotoxicity, limiting its clinical application.
• Parthenolide (PTL), from Tanacetum parthenium, has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic effects of PTL on PTX-induced cardiotoxicity.
• To evaluate PTL's impact on gene and protein expression related to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Main Methods:

• 48 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups.
• Groups received PTX, vehicle control (DMSO), or varying doses of PTL post-PTX.
• Assessed oxidative stress biomarkers (GSH, MDA), DNA damage (8-OHdG), inflammation markers (iNOS, COX-2), and antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, GR, GPX, GST).

Main Results:

• PTX induced significant oxidative stress, DNA damage, and inflammation in cardiac tissue.
• PTL administration dose-dependently restored oxidative stress biomarkers and DNA damage levels.
• PTL treatment significantly reduced inflammation markers and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and expression.

Conclusions:

• PTL demonstrates potent therapeutic effects against PTX-induced cardiotoxicity.
• PTL mitigates PTX-induced cardiotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.
• PTL shows promise as a cardioprotective agent in chemotherapy.