Attenuation of Doxorubicin Induced Cardiotoxicity in Wistar Rats by Extracts of Fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Lam

The objective of the study was to evaluate the cardioprotective activity of fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Lam. in doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. The ethanolic and aqueous extract of fruits of Z. jujuba has been prepared. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups. Vehicle control was Group 1. Doxorubicin 5 mg/kg i.p. was administered to Group 2 animals on the 7th and 14th day. Animals in groups 3 and 4 were dosed with ethanolic extracts of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o. while groups 5 and 6 received aqueous extracts of 200 and 400mg/kg i.p. Animals from group 7 were given nebivolol 5 mg/kg p.o. All the animals were treated for 28 days. Doxorubicin (2.5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to group 2 to group 7 on day 7th and day 14th. Body weight, ECG, blood pressure, CK-MB, Cardiac troponin-I and LDH were the study parameters. The histology of the heart was performed at the end of the study. Doxorubicin showed cardiotoxicity manifested by changes in serum marker enzymes, ECG and hemodynamic parameters which were further confirmed by histology of the heart. These changes induced by doxorubicin were attenuated by treatment with extracts of the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Lam. It is concluded that aqueous extract of the fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Lam. (400 mg/kg p.o.) treatment for 28 days protects the heart of rats in doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity.