Methanolic Extract of Morchella esculenta (Ascomycota), Prevents Chemotherapy Related Cardiotoxicity in Tumour Bearing Mice

Quest for bioactive that confer protection against chemotherapy induced cardio toxicity is a front-line area of cardio oncology research. Morel mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, wound healing, cough, cold, indigestion, excessive phlegm and breathlessness. Morchella esculenta, commonly known as Guchhi in India is a highly prized culinary morel mushroom. Recent studies carried out in our laboratory have demonstrated significant cardioprotective effect of M. esculenta against doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity. Since bioactive extracts of morel mushrooms were found to possess profound antioxidant activity, the possible interference of these extracts with antineoplastic activity of chemotherapy drugs is often surmised. Hence current study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of two anticancer drugs, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide on solid tumour bearing mice treated with bioactive extract of M.esculenta. Solid tumour was induced by subcutaneous injection of Dalton’s Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells on the right hind limbs of Swiss albino mice. Animals were administered with various concentrations of methanol extract of M. esculenta following tumour induction. Tumour growth (volume and mass) was measured for four weeks after tumour induction. Cardioprotective effect of methanolic extract was assessed by determining cardiac injury markers levels in serum, antioxidant status in myocardium and histopathology of heart tissue. The results showed significant cardioprotective effect of methanol extract of M. esculenta on tumour bearing mice The findings also suggest that methanol extract of M. esculenta did not delimit the therapeutic effect of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide despite its profound antioxidant activity.