Apigenin improves myocardial function and attenuates cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin in male rats

Doxorubicin has been used in the treatment of malignancies, including lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer. Cardiotoxicity is the main adverse effect of doxorubicin. Apigenin, as a flavonoid, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti tumoral properties. The aim of this study is the assessment of the effect of apigenin on cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin.
60 male wistar rats were divided into 6 groups. Cardiotoxicity was induced by 6 injections of doxorubicin (2 mg/kg, ip) over 12 days. The treatment groups received orally 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg/day apigenin for 12 days simultaneously with cardiotoxicity induction.
The heart weight to body weight ratio showed no significant difference between different groups. In the apigenin group (25 mg/kg), EF and FS showed a significant increase (P Apigenin prevents LDH and CK-MB elevation and also EF and FS reduction and improves cardiac tissue changes and leads to a decrease in cardiac damage induced by doxorubicin.