Deciphering the Ameliorative Potential of 5, 7-dihydroxyflavone (Chrysin) on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Modulating Oxidative Stress in Rats

Abstract

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors. The present study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of 5, 7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Thirty-five adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into seven groups (n = 5 each) which consisted of normal control (group 1) receiving phosphate buffer saline (0.4 ml), positive control (Group 2) received 2mg\kg of doxorubicin (DOX) through an intraperitoneal route once weekly for 21 days, chrysin low dose and chrysin high dose (Group 3 and 4) received oral administration of chrysin 50&100mg/kg for 21 days, chrysin low dose and DOX, chrysin medium dose and DOX and chrysin high dose and DOX(group 5, 6, and 7) received 2mg/kg of DOX once weekly with 50, 100 and 150mg/kg of chrysin for 21 days. Significant elevations in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and histological lesions, which corresponded with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptotic indicators, and cardiotoxicity when compared to controls, were indicative of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a sign of oxidative stress, SOD, CPK (creatinine phosphokinase), TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance), and CAT (catalase) were also elevated in the DOX group. The DOX group also had increased levels of cardiac inflammatory markers, including as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the apoptotic marker caspase-3. 5, 7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin) significantly mitigated, but did not entirely reverse, the cardiotoxicity caused by DOX by reducing the histopathological scores of cardiomyopathies and lowering cTnI in comparison to the DOX group. Additionally, chrysin reduced MDA to substantially similar levels as the control. Following chrysin administration, significant decreases in IL-1, IL-6, and caspase-3 were also seen in comparison to the DOX-only group. All things considered, these findings point to chrysin's protective action against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, which may have been rendered possible by oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic suppression.