Protective effect of green tea extract on doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Doxorubicin induces oxidative stress leading to cardiotoxicity causing electrocardiogram abnormalities and increases in biomarkers associated with toxicity. Green tea extract (GTE) is reported to possess antioxidant activity mainly via its polyphenolic constituent, catechins. This study was intended to determine the effect of various doses of GTE (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day p.o. for 30 days) on doxorubicin-induced electrocardiographic and biochemical changes in rat heart. The latter included lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase in serum and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione, as well as membrane bound enzymes like Na⁺K⁺ATPase,\;Ca²⁺ATPase,\;Mg²⁺ATPase and decreased lipid peroxidation in heart tissue Results demonstrated that rats which received GTE were less susceptible to such changes indicating protection afforded by GTE.