Protective effects of silymarin against paclitaxel-induced cardiac toxicity

In this study, the protectivity of silymarin (SY) against the harmful effects of paclitaxel (PX) on the heart was investigated. PX was administered 2 mg/kg intraperitoneally to the PX group, 100 mg/kg SY wasadministered by gavage to the SY group, and both drugs were administered to the PX + SY group as other groups. Treatment with SY significantly decreased cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. In the PX group; the decrease in glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly normalized with SY administration. Histologically; heart injury was significantly reduced in the PX + SY group compared to the PX group. As a result, it was determined that SY, which has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, could protect the heart tissue from the toxic effects of PX.