Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a type of chemotherapy drug frequently used to treat different malignancies. However, one of the most serious adverse effects of DOX usage is the potential of cardiotoxicity. Cardioprotective medications may be used to reduce cardiac damage because of DOX therapy. Glycyrrhizin (GL) is found in high amounts in the roots of the ‘Licorice’ plant from the Glycyrrhiza species. Due to its possible effects on blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular health, GL has attracted attention concerning the heart. Oxidative stress and inflammatory process have been shown to be responsible for DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). For this reason, in consequence of its possible pharmacological benefits, such as antiinflammatory and antioxidant GL has been researched in this study. Here in, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of GL on DIC.
Material and Methods: In this study, thirty-two male Wistar albino adult male rats were used. Four groups of rats were assigned at randomly: Control, DOX, GL+DOX, and GL groups. DOX was given 20 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.) and 100 mg/kg GL was administered orally (p.o.) once a day for 14 days. Electrocardiography (ECG) and BP records of the rats were obtained. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels in the tissue were measured. Histopathological analyses were performed on the myocardium and descending aorta.
Results: In the DOX group, mean and diastolic BP were higher than in the control group (p

Key words: Cardiotoxicity; doxorubicin; glycyrrhizin; oxidative stress, rat.