CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF URSOLIC ACID AGAINST DOXORUBICIN INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY

Doxorubicin (DOX), is a potent anti-neoplastic agent but is associated with significant myocardial toxicity. Ursolic acid (UA), a potent phyto-constituent is documented for different medicinal properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the cardio-protective effect of UA against DOX induced cardiotoxicity. Rats of either sex were treated with UA (40 mg/kg, s.c.) alone and UA with DOX toxicity for four weeks. Apart from normal control and UA alone treated groups other groups, were subjected to DOX (3 mg/kg, i.p.) toxicity on day 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and the effect of different treatments were evaluated by changes in electrocardiographic parameters, serum biomarkers, tissue antioxidant levels, lipid profiles and histological parameters. UA treatment was responsible for restoration of electro-cardiographic parameters, decrease in biomarkers, increase in antioxidants, normalization of lipid parameters, decrease in histological score compared to DOX control group. UA treatment showed significant myocardial potency against DOX induced myocardial toxicity.