Characterization of antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects of extra virgin olive oil against doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy in rats

Article published in Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research 8(4): 316-326, 2020.

Waleed Hassan AlMalki, Imran Shahid*

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al Qura University, Al-Abidiyah, Makkah, P.O Box. 13578, Postal code 21955, Saudi Arabia.*E-mail: iyshahid@uqu.edu.sa

Abstract

Context: The medicinal uses of olive fruit oil (Olea europaea) are clearly documented as an anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic (type-2 DM), and to protect against heart diseases.

Aims: To evaluate the therapeutic influence of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as an antihypertensive and cardioprotective against doxorubicin (DXR) induced cardiomyopathy in rats.

Methods: Wistar rats were divided into five groups as group 1 (normal control), group 2 (disease control i.e., DXR-treated) and groups 3, 4 and 5 as therapeutic groups (i.e., DXR- treated rats plus 2.5%, 5%, and 10% EVOO in diet respectively). Cardiac injury was induced by the administration of DXR. Cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive and antioxidant potential of EVOO were studied by measuring different blood, serum, and tissue biomarkers, enzymes and hemodynamic parameters in disease control and experimental rat groups.

Results: Hemodynamic parameters were significantly reduced in rats administered with 2.5%, 5%, and 10% EVOO as compared to group 2 rats at p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001 respectively. Serum levels of creatinine kinase, troponin T, CK-MB and LDH were found markedly reduced in rats fed with 10% dietary EVOO as compared to disease control rats (p<0.01). Serum levels of antioxidant enzymes like GSH and SOD were found significantly higher in group 5 rats as compared to group 2 at p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively.

Conclusions: Dietary administration of EVOO has the potential to reduce drug-induced cardiomyopathies and sustained use of EVOO in diet could be cardioprotective and useful against high blood pressure.