Amelioration of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiac and Renal Toxicity by Oxycarotenoid Lutein and Its Mechanism of Action.

We set out to determine the effect of oxycarotenoid lutein on reducing cardiac and renal toxicity induced by doxorubicin (DXR). We started with oral administration in rats of lutein for 15 d before administering DXR (30 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally, in a single dose). Animals in all groups were sacrificed 24 h after DXR administration. Serum markers of cardiac injury lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase increased drastically after DXR but decreased after lutein treatment (p < 0.001). Elevated serum urea and creatinine in DXR-treated rats were reduced by lutein treatment (p < 0.001). Lutein increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione levels in cardiac and renal tissues of DXR-treated rats. Pretreatment of lutein reduced DXR-induced rise of oxidative stress markers including lipid peroxidation, tissue hydroperoxides, and conjugated dienes in cardiac and renal tissue. These findings were supported by electrocardiogram measurements and histopathological analyses. Results confirmed the protection of lutein against cardiac and renal toxicity induced by DXR in rats.