Effects of beta-carotene on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

AIM

To study the effects of beta-carotene (Car) reducing the cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin (Dox).

METHODS

The pathological changes of rat myocardium were observed with photomicroscopy. The malondialdehyde (MDA) value of rat heart was measured with thiobarbituric acid method. The pyrogallol autoxidation method was used for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were quantitatived with DTNB method. Electron spin resonance (ESR) technique was used to measure the level of the semiquinone free radicals.

RESULTS

Car 10 or 30 mg.kg-1.d-1 i.g. reduced the cardiotoxicity induced by Dox, diminished the myocardial MDA production (P < 0.01), and protected the activities of SOD and GSH-Px. ESR revealed that Car scavenged semiquinone free radicals induced by Dox in vitro. The inhibitory rates of semiquinone free radicals formation by Car 0.02, 0.1, and 1.0 mmol.L-1 were 47.7%, 76.6%, and 82.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Car, with abilities of anti-lipid peroxidation and scavenging semiquinone free radicals, possessed effects of reducing Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.