Attenuation of arsenic trioxide induced cardiotoxicity through flaxseed oil in experimental rats.

OBJECTIVES

Arsenic trioxide (AsO) is a potent drug for acute promyelocytic leukaemia, but its clinical trials are allied with some serious adverse events mainly cardiac functional abnormalities. So the objective of our investigation is to identify the cardioprotective action of flaxseed oil (FSO), a natural compound against AsO induced cardiotoxicity.

METHODS

Male wistar rats were treated with AsO (4 mg/kg) to induce cardiotoxicity. FSO (250 and 500 mg/kg) was given in combination with AsO for evaluating its cardioprotective efficacy.

RESULTS

Treatment with AsO resulted in deposition of arsenic in heart tissue, increased cardiac marker enzymes release, lipid peroxidation (LPO), oxidative insults and pathological damages in the heart. Co-treatment with FSO (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the arsenic accumulation, cardiac marker enzymes, LPO and cardiac structural alterations. FSO treatment significantly improved cardiac glutathione content, antioxidant enzymes and reduced the pathological damages in cardiac tissue. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major fatty acid content in the FSO is alpha-linolenic acid, which has a strong milieu in cardiac health.

CONCLUSION

The results of the current investigation suggested that FSO is an effective agent in reducing arsenic-induced cardiac toxicity and can be used as an adjunct/dietary supplement for the cancer patients on AsO therapy.