Structural and morphological modulation of the myocardium by Dioscorea bulbifera saponins in experimentally induced cardiotoxicity

Figures

• 

  Fig. 1. Flowchart for study design.

• 

  Fig. 2. This study investigated the effect of saponin on serum lactate dehydrogenase (A) and serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) (B) activities in Wistar rats subjected to doxorubicin administration. The experimental groups included a control group (A), rats receiving doxorubicin alone at a dose of 10 mg/kg (B), rats administered saponin alone at doses of 50 mg/kg (C) and 100 mg/kg (D), and groups receiving combined treatments of doxorubicin with saponin at 50 mg/kg (E) and 100 mg/kg (F). Additional groups involved rats pre-treated with saponin at 50 mg/kg (G) and 100 mg/kg (H) followed by doxorubicin. The sample size for each group was six animals, with results expressed as percentage weight change ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. The findings indicated that saponin modulated the activity of serum lactate dehydrogenase in doxorubicin-treated rats, suggesting potential protective effects against doxorubicin-induced toxicity. SEM – Standard error of means. P < 0.0001.

• 

  Fig. 3. This study investigated the effect of saponin on oxidative stress markers in Wistar rats administered with doxorubicin. A total of six rats per group were used, and the results were expressed as percentage weight change with standard error of the mean (SEM). The experimental groups included a control group (Group A), a group receiving doxorubicin alone at a dose of 10 mg/kg (Group B), groups receiving saponin alone at doses of 50 mg/kg (Group C) and 100 mg/kg (Group D), groups receiving a combination of doxorubicin and saponin at 50 mg/kg (Group E) and 100 mg/kg (Group F), as well as groups receiving saponin at 50 mg/kg (Group G) and 100 mg/kg (Group H) prior to doxorubicin administration. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05, with ∗ indicating significance. The study aimed to elucidate the modulatory effects of saponin on oxidative stress markers in the context of doxorubicin-induced toxicity. SEM – Standard error of means P = 0.0001.

• 

  Fig. 4. Photomicrographs of the left ventricle in Wistar rats are presented, with the black arrow indicating PAS-positive staining observed using PAS with diastase control stain at a scale of 50 μm. The experimental groups include Group A as the control, Group B receiving doxorubicin at a dose of 10 mg/kg, Group C administered saponin at 50 mg/kg, and Group D receiving saponin at 100 mg/kg. Additionally, Group E was treated with doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) combined with 50 mg/kg of saponin, while Group F received doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) combined with 100 mg/kg of saponin. Group G was given 50 mg/kg of saponin prior to doxorubicin (10 mg/kg), and Group H received 100 mg/kg of saponin prior to doxorubicin (10 mg/kg).

• 

  Fig. 5. The study comprised eight experimental groups: Group A served as the control, while Group B received doxorubicin at a dosage of 10 mg/kg. Group C was administered saponin at 50 mg/kg, and Group D received saponin at 100 mg/kg. Group E was treated with a combination of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) and saponin at 50 mg/kg, whereas Group F received doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) alongside saponin at 100 mg/kg. Group G was given saponin at 50 mg/kg combined with doxorubicin at 10 mg/kg, and Group H received saponin at 100 mg/kg together with doxorubicin at 10 mg/kg. The assessment involved Caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining at 400 × magnification to evaluate apoptotic activity across the groups.

• 

  Fig. 6. The photomicrographs illustrate representative light micrographs of the left ventricle, highlighting CD4 immunoreactivity across different experimental groups. Group A served as the control, while Group B received doxorubicin at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Groups C and D were administered saponin alone at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Groups E and F involved combined treatments of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) with saponin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Additionally, Groups G and H received saponin at 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively, in combination with doxorubicin (10 mg/kg). All samples were stained using CD4 immunohistochemistry at a magnification of × 200.