The protective effect of Lasia spinosa (Linn.) dissipates chemical-induced cardiotoxicity in an animal model

Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites is a medicinal plant of enormous traditional use with insufficient scientific evidence. This research screened the antioxidative effect of L. spinosa extracts by measuring the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS scavenging activity, Iron chelating activity, and Ferric reducing power followed by an evaluation of in-vivo cardioprotective effect in doxorubicin-induced Wistar albino rats. Phytochemical characterization was made by Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectroscopic analysis. L. spinosa showed an excellent antioxidative effect while Methanol leaf extract (LSM) was found to be more potent than Ethyl acetate leaf extract (LSE) in scavenging the free radicals. Intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin caused a significant (P < 0.001) increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), C-reactive protein(CRP), and Cardiac troponin I. Pretreatment with orally administrated (LSM100 and LSM200 mg/kg b.w) daily for 10 days showed a decrease in the cardiac markers, lipid profiles, especially triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), an increase of High-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to the disease control group. LSM200 was found to significantly (P < 0.05) decrease the levels of CK-MB and LDH. It also restored TC, TG, and LDL levels compared to the doxorubicin-induced cardiac control group. The protective role of LSM was further confirmed by histopathological examination. This study thus demonstrates that L. spinosa methanol extract could be approached as an alternative supplement for cardiotoxicity, especially in the chemical-induced toxicity of cardiac tissues.