Objective: 

Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the effective and useful antitumor drugs. However, the clinical use of DOX has been limited by its cardiotoxic effects which are involved apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-apoptotic effects of onion (Allium cepa) extracts (ACE) on DOX-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Methods: 

The rats were randomly allotted into one of three experimental groups: control, DOX treated and DOX treated with ACE; each group contained 8 animals. Control group received 1 ml/day of saline by orally. The rats in ACE treated group was given a daily dose of 1 ml ACE for 14 days by using intra-gastric intubation. To induce cardiotoxicity, DOX (30 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally by single dose and the rats were sacrificed after 48 hours. To date, no such studies have been performed on cardioprotective and anti-apoptotic potential of ACE on DOX-induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes.

Results: 

Our data indicate a significant reduction in the activity of in situ identification of apoptosis using terminal dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) in cardiomyocytes of the DOX treated group with ACE therapy. DOX treated with ACE groups induced a significant decrease in MDA levels, increased the activities of SOD, and GSH-Px in comparison with the DOX treated group.

Conclusions: 

These biochemical and histological disturbances were effectively attenuated on pretreatment with ACE. The present study showed that ACE may be a suitable cardioprotector against toxic effects of DOX.