Differential Effects of p-Coumaric Acid in relieving Doxorubicin induced Cardiotoxicity in Solid Tumour Bearing and Non-tumor Bearing Mice

Abstract The cardioprotective potential of p-coumaric acid (pCA) against Doxorubicin (Dox)-mediated cardiotoxicity in normal animals has been previously documented. The present study sought to examine the effect of pCA on the cardiotoxic and anti-tumor activity of Dox in non-tumor vs. Daltons Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) induced solid tumor model. Male Swiss Albino mice were pretreated and co-treated with pCA (100 mg/kg b.w.), after which Dox (16 mg/kg b.w. cumulative) was administered for a period of 28 days. Levels of serum cardiac diagnostic markers, lipid peroxidation products, and liver marker enzymes were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the Dox only treated groups. Partial restoration of the antioxidant system in the pCA pre/co-treated groups was observed. Cardiac damage was elevated in the Dox only tumor group; evident from changes in the heart/body weight ratio, haematological and biochemical analyses. Dox treated groups showed a significant reduction in tumor progression. pCA treatment did not appear to impede/enhance the efficacy of Dox-mediated anti-tumor activity in the tumor supergroup. This study leads us to conclude that pCA can be explored as a potent molecule to combat Dox-induced cardiotoxicity by the virtue of its proven antioxidant properties with no interference in the anti-tumor activity of Dox at the given dose.