The Open Pharmacology Journal

2008, 2 : 20-23
Published online 2008 March 27. DOI: 10.2174/1874143600802010020
Publisher ID: TOPHARMJ-2-20

Protective Effect of 6-Gingerol Against Cardiotoxicity Induced by Doxorubicin

Mahmoud A. Mansour , Saleh A. Bakheet , Abdulaziz M. Aleisa , Salim S. Al-Rejaie , Abdulaziz A. AL-Yahya , Mubarak El-Ameen and Othman A. Al-Shabanah
Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT

Doxorubicin (DOX) has a wide spectrum of antitumor activity with dose-related cardiotoxicity as a major side effect. This cardiotoxicity has been suggested to result from enhanced oxidative stress caused by oxygen centered free radicals. The present study was performed to investigate the influence of the antioxidant 6-gingerol on cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin (DOX). A single dose of DOX (20 mg/kg i.p.) induced myocardial toxicity after 48 hrs, manifested biochemically by a significant elevation in the following serum enzymes activities: creatine phosphokinase (E.C.2.7.3.2), lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.27), aspartate transaminase (E.C.2.6.1.1) and serum cardiac isoenzyme creatine phosphokinase (MB). Administration of 6-gingerol (10 mg/kg/day p.o.) in drinking water starting 5 days before and continuing during the experimental period significantly ameliorated myocardial toxicity induced by DOX. The amelioration of cardiotoxicity was evidenced by significant reductions in serum enzymes activities and cardiac isoenzyme. The current data support 6-gingerol as a potentially selective cardioprotective agent, against cardiotoxicity induced by DOX and it may therefore improve the therapeutic index of DOX.

Keywords:

Doxorubicin, 6-gingerol, cardiotoxicity.