title: Schisandra chinensis protects against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adriamycin (ADR) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against cancers but its clinical use is limited due to its cardiotoxicity. It has been suggested that the pathogenesis involves inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis, free radical formation and lipid peroxidation. Schisandra (SC) has strong antioxidant activity. We investigate the protective effects of SC on adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were divided into four groups: CONT (control), ADR, SC and SC + ADR. After treatment, the hearts of the rats were surgically removed and studied for synthesis rates of nucleic acid and protein, myocardial antioxidants and lipid peroxidation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiotoxicity was characterized by ascites, congested liver and depressed cardiac function. Nucleic acid and protein synthesis were inhibited, malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased, while myocardial glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased by ADR. In contrast, administration of SC before and concurrent with ADR significantly reduced mortality and the amount of ascites. Indexes in myocardial GSHPx, macromolecular biosynthesis and SOD activities increased with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that ADR cardiotoxicity is associated with antioxidant deficit and SC treatment changes the antioxidant status of the heart and improves cardiac function.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipe, ROC. y0606@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Jyh-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Tai-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yu-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000633:toxicity*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D032141:Schisandra; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase