| Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity is well-known as a serious complication of chemotherapy in patients
with cancer. It is unknownwhether crocin (CRO),main component of Crocus sativus L. (Saffron), could reduce the
severity of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess the protective impact of
CRO on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The rats were divided into four groups: control, DOX (2 mg/kg/
48 h, for 12 days), and CRO groups that receiving DOX as in group 2 and CRO (20 and 40 mg/kg/24 h, for
20 days) starting 4 days prior to first DOX injection and throughout the study. Echocardiographic, electrocardiographic
and hemodynamic studies, along with histopathological examination and MTT test were carried out. Our
findings demonstrate that DOX resulted in cardiotoxicity manifested by decreased the left ventricular (LV) systolic
and diastolic pressures, rate of rise/drop of LV pressure, ejection fraction, fractional shortening and contractility
index, as compared to control group. In addition, histopathological analysis of heart confirmed adverse
structural changes inmyocardial cells following DOX administration. The results also showed that CRO treatment
significantly improved DOX-induced heart damage, structural changes in the myocardium and ventricular function.
In addition, CRO did not affect the in vitro antitumor activity of DOX. Taken together, our data confirm that
CRO is protective against cardiovascular-related disorders produced by DOX, and clinical studies are needed to
examine these findings in human. |