Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chemotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX) is associated with toxicity in many organs including cardiac tissue. A large body of evidence has suggested that phenolic acids, such as protocatechuic acid (PCA), have beneficial effects on cardiovascular problems. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative properties of PCA against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Animals were treated with PCA (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, orally) for 10 days. On the 7(th) day, a single injection of DOX (20 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered to induce cardiotoxicity. Electrocardiography, biochemical analysis of cardiac markers, and histological inspections were performed. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Pretreatment with PCA, especially at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg for 7 days before the administration of DOX, significantly improved cardiac rhythm and pathological changes, reduced serum levels of creatine phosphokinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid peroxides and also prevented heart weight rise. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The in-vivo findings of the current study revealed that PCA exhibits protective effects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. These results suggest that PCA, a natural phenolic acid, may serve as a promising candidate for cardioprotective interventions in clinical trials involving chemotherapy with DOX.