Clinicopathological Studies on the Impact of Grape Seed Extract and L-Carnitine as Cardioprotective Agents Against Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX) cancer therapy induces serious cardiotoxicity as a side effect. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of grape seed extract (GSE) and L-Carnitine (L-CA) against DOX-induced cardiac toxicity in male rats. Six groups of male albino rats were used: G1 (control); G2 (GSE), given grape seed extract (100 mg/kg b.wt.) orally for 35 days; G3 (L-CA) (150 mg/kg b.wt.); Group 4 (DOX-induced cardiotoxicity), given DOX (10 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) on the 28th day of the experiment; G5 (GSE + DOX), given GSE and DOX as previously mentioned; and G6 (L-CA + DOX), given L-CA and DOX as previously mentioned. Electrocardiographic evaluation, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants, serum cardiac markers, and inflammatory markers were estimated. Histopathological evaluation of cardiac tissue was also examined. Key findings showed that DOX induced ECG abnormalities lipid peroxidation, reduced antioxidants, and elevated cardiac and inflammatory markers. GSE and L-CA significantly ameliorated ECG abnormalities, reduced lipid peroxidation, improved antioxidant enzymes and serum cardiac markers, and reduced inflammation. These findings suggest that GSE and L-CA exhibit substantial cardioprotective effects in DOX-induced cardiotoxicity via their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials.