title: Boswellic acids synergize antitumor activity and protect against the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin in mice bearing Ehrlich's carcinoma.
abstract: This study aimed to test whether boswellic acids add to the antitumor effects of doxorubicin against solid tumors of Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) grown in mice, and to investigate the protective effects of boswellic acids against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Sixty-four female Swiss albino mice bearing EAC solid tumors were distributed among 8 groups as follows: group 1, EAC control group; group 2, doxorubicin treatment group [mice were injected with doxorubicin (6 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·week(-1)) for 3 weeks]; groups 3-5, these mice were treated with boswellic acids (125, 250, or 500 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), respectively; groups 6-8, these mice were treated with a combination of doxorubicin and boswellic acids (125, 250, or 500 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1)), respectively, for 3 weeks. The results indicated that boswellic acids synergized the antitumor activity of doxorubicin. Doxorubicin-treated mice showed elevated serum activities of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB as well as cardiac malondialdehyde. Further, decreases in cardiac levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities were observed. These effects were accompanied by an increase in cardiac expression of caspase 3. Thus, treatment with boswellic acids attenuated doxorubicin-evoked disturbances in the above-mentioned parameters, highlighting antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities. Therefore, boswellic acids could be potential candidates for ameliorating the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin.
authors.affiliation: a Suez Canal Authority hospital, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shimaa A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sawsan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zaitone
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
authors.forename: Yasser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Moustafa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D014315:Triterpenes; C054625:boswellic acid; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma; acides boswelliques; activité anti-tumorale; antitumor activity; apoptose; apoptosis; boswellic acids; carcinome ascitique d’Ehrlich; cardiotoxicity; cardiotoxicité; doxorubicin; doxorubicine; mice