Betanin and Allicin Ameliorate Adriamycin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats by Ameliorating Cardiac Ischemia and Improving Antioxidant Efficiency

Aims: To investigate the protective effects of betanin and allicin against adriamycin (ADR)-induced cardiotoxicity. Study Design: Experimental animal model. Place and Duration of Study: King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 10 days. Methodology: Adult female Wistar rats were allocated to the following groups (n = 10 per group): Control, received water, a standard diet for 10 days and i.p normal saline on day 8; ADR, intraperitoneal injection with 15 mg/kg ADR as a single dose on day 8; ADR+BE, betanin (20 mg/kg) administration followed by i.p. injection of ADR (15 mg/kg); ADR+ALL, allicin (20 mg/kg) administration followed by i.p. injection of ADR; and ADR+BE+ALL, equal volumes of betanin and allicin followed by ADR (15 mg/kg). Hemodynamic characteristics of the cardiovascular system and electrocardiography were evaluated. Blood samples were obtained to assess cardiac enzymes; cardiac homogenates were processed to analyze oxidative and antioxidant parameters and low-grade inflammatory indicators. Histopathological evaluation of heart tissues was also conducted. Results: Rats pre-administered betanin and allicin were protected from ADR-associated ischemia based on the significant (P < .05) shortening of QT, QT(C) interval, QRS, and T peak Tend interval compared with the ADR group. Betanin and allicin pre-treatment significantly decreased the ADR-induced elevated serum creatine kinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase levels. ADR-elevated cardiac oxidative parameters, along with the serum concentrations of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the cardiac transforming growth factor-beta, were significantly inhibited by betanin and allicin. Histopathological findings confirmed the biochemical results. Betanin and allicin reduced ADR-induced heart damage by inhibiting several pathways, including those of oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusion: Betanin and allicin may be promising cardioprotective agents owing to their antioxidant and cytoprotective properties and could thus be used as adjuvant treatment for cancer therapy.

Automated summary

This study investigated the protective effects of betanin and allicin against ADR-induced cardiotoxicity. The results showed that pre-administration of betanin and allicin can alleviate ADR-induced heart damage, suggesting their potential as promising cardioprotective agents.