title: Cardioprotective activity of standardized extract of Ficus racemosa stem bark against doxorubicin-induced toxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ficus racemosa Linn. (Moraceae) bark is a rich source of phenolic compounds having diverse biological properties including antioxidant activity. The present study evaluated the cardioprotective activity of sequential acetone extract of Ficus racemosa bark against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract was standardized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and subjected to acute toxicological evaluation in mice. Cardiotoxicity was induced by administration of doxorubicin (10 mg kg(-1) i.v.) to the extract pretreated rats (250 and 500 mg kg(-1)) and compared with that of Arjuna, a standard cardiotonic. Biochemical parameters included CK-MB, LDH, AST, ALT, troponin I, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and glutathione.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HPLC fingerprinting of the extract indicated the presence of bergenin (0.89%) and bergapten (0.07%). In an acute toxicity study, the extract at a dose of 2 g kg(-1) did not cause any adverse changes and no mortality was observed. Administration of doxorubicin significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) serum levels of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase, which were decreased to an extent of 68, 63, 41, and 65%, respectively, in extract pretreated group (500 mg kg(-1)). Troponin I was undetected in control group, while it was found in serum of all the experimental groups. The extract pretreatment significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) TBARS and increased glutathione levels in serum and cardiac tissue. These observations were further substantiated by the histopathological studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acetone extract of F. racemosa bark possesses potential cardioprotective activity against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats by scavenging free radicals generated by the administration of the drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Mysore, India. fayaz_ahmed09@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Faiyaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Asna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urooj
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000737:chemistry; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form / Q000097:blood; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005260:Female; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D019210:Troponin I / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D019210:Troponin I; D000096:Acetone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D052279:Creatine Kinase, MB Form; D005978:Glutathione