What question did this study set out to answer?

Investigate the cardioprotective potential of Olea europaea leaves extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

April 5, 2026Open Access

Olea europaea Leaves Extract: A Guard against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Key Result

Olea europaea leaves extract significantly mitigated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats by reducing serum cardiac biomarkers and preventing cardiac muscle damage.

Key Points

Investigate the cardioprotective potential of Olea europaea leaves extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
Utilized eighteen male Wistar rats divided into three groups: control, doxorubicin (DX), and DX with Olea europaea extract (DX+OE).
Administered DX at 15 mg/kg for one week to the DX and DX+OE groups.
Administered Olea europaea extract at 200 mg/kg for six weeks to the DX+OE group.
Assessed cardiac toxicity through serum biomarkers and histopathological examination.
Olea europaea extract exhibited high phenolic and flavonoid content with notable antioxidant effects.
Reduced levels of Troponin-I, CPK, CKMB, LDH, TC, TL, TGS, LDL, and transaminases in the DX+OE group compared to the DX group.
Histopathological analysis confirmed less damage to cardiac muscle in the DX+OE group, indicating protective effects.

Structured PICO

Does Olea europaea leaves extract prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in male Wistar rats?

Population

Male Wistar rats

Intervention

Olea europaea (OE) leaves extract (200 mg/kg for six weeks) plus Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg for one week)

Comparator

Doxorubicin alone (15 mg/kg for one week) and saline control

Outcome

Serum biomarkers for cardiac toxicity (Troponin-I, CPK, CKMB, LDH, TC, TL, TGS, HDL, LDL, AST, ALT) and histopathological examinationsurrogate

Olea europaea leaves extract shows potential in mitigating doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in a rat model by reducing cardiac biomarkers and preventing histopathological damage.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Background: Doxorubicin (DX) is a very potent chemotherapeutic agent, widely used against a variety of malignancies. However, it is associated with a number of organ toxicities i.e. cardiotoxicity, which tend to limit its use in cancer treatment. Recently, plant secondary metabolites have investigated for their chemo-preventive, anticancer as well as cardio-protective potentials. Aim: The current study was designed for the investigation of in-vivo cardio-protective potential of Olea europaea (OE) leaves extract against DX-induced cardiotoxicity in animal models. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats in three groups were employed in the study; the control group received only saline, DX group received DX (cumulative dose of 15 mg/kg for one week), while the DX+OE group received DX (15 mg/kg for one week) and OE leaves extract (200mg/kg for six weeks). The assessment methods involved estimation of serum biomarkers for cardiac toxicity including Troponin-I, CPK, CKMB, LDH, TC, TL, TGS, HDL, LDL, and transaminases (AST and ALT) and histopathological examination. Results: Results showed an ample amount of phenolic and flavonoid content in OE extract with promising antioxidant potential. The levels of Troponin-I, CPK, CKMB, LDH, TC, TL, TGS, LDL, and transaminases were significantly reduced in DX-OE pretreated group. This significant reduction in DX-induced increased levels of serum cardiac biomarkers prevented devastating effects on cardiac muscles which was also manifested by histopathological investigations. Conclusion: Conclusively, OE extract remarkably produced a characteristic protective effect on DX-induced cardiotoxicity by suppressing oxidative stress and apoptosis. OE extract can be a potential candidate for combination with DX to mitigate its cardiotoxicity in its long-term clinical use.