Protective effects of lycopene and tomato extract against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

The protective effect of tomato extract and lycopene on acute doxorubicin (DOX) myocardial toxicity was evaluated in mice. DOX toxicity, induced by a single intraperitoneal injection (15 mg/kg), was revealed by an elevated serum CPK(MB) and histopathological observations. Tomato extract (1.2 and 2.4 g/kg, i.p.) and lycopene (1.7 and 3.5 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented the rise in serum CPK(MB) and ameliorated cardiac cell injury. These results suggest that tomato extract and lycopene inhibit DOX cardiotoxicity and might serve as a novel combination chemotherapeutic agent with DOX to limit free radical-mediated organ injury.