Improvement effect of Shengxian Decoction on cardiac toxicity induced by arsenic trioxide in rats

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Shengxian Decoction (SXD), first documented by Zhang Xichun in the Yi Xue Zhong Zhong Can Xi Lu, has been traditionally utilized to treat cardiovascular conditions such as coronary atherosclerosis and cardiomyopathy. However, the precise pharmacological mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain to be fully elucidated.

Aim of the study: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) induces significant cardiotoxicity during clinical treatment, manifesting as dose-dependent QT interval prolongation, severe ventricular arrhythmias, such as torsades de pointes (TdP). While SXD demonstrates favorable clinical effects in cardiovascular disease treatment, its influence on ATO-induced cardiotoxicity has not been determined. The present investigation seeks to clarify the cardioprotective potential of SXD and uncover its mechanistic basis in a rat model subjected to ATO-induced myocardial toxicity.

Materials and methods

The principal chemical components present in SXD were identified by employing HPLC analysis. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with SXD first and then ATO was administered 6h later for a period of 15 days. During the course of the experiment, animal weight and food intake were documented. ECG was employed to evaluate cardiac function, and myocardial damage was assessed by applying H&E and Masson's trichrome staining protocols. The ultrastructural morphology of mitochondria was examined using transmission electron microscopy. ROS levels and SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA in myocardial tissue were quantified. Serum cardiac biomarkers (LDH, CK, cTnI) were measured. ELISA was employed to quantify the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). The expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-3) and of key regulators within the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling axis (AMPKα2, p-AMPKα2, SIRT1, PGC-1α, and NF-κB) was analyzed via Western blotting.

Results

The findings demonstrated that SXD administration mitigated ECG abnormalities and reduced pathological damage induced by ATO. SXD treatment reduced ROS generation, increased enzymatic bioactivities of SOD, CAT, and GSH, lowered MDA levels, and further reduced the serum concentrations of LDH, CK, and cTnI. Moreover, SXD treatment downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The expression levels of Bax, Cleaved caspase-3, and Caspase-3 declined, whereas Bcl-2 expression was elevated. SXD alleviated ATO-mediated inhibition of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis and suppressed NF-κB pathway activation.

Conclusions

SXD may alleviate ATO-induced cardiotoxicity by mitigating oxidative damage, inflammatory responses, and programmed cell death, potentially through upregulation of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α axis.