EFFECTS OF GREEN TEA INFUSION AND EPICATECHIN ON DOXORUBICIN-INDUCED RENOCARDIOTOXICITY IN MALE ALBINO RATS

This study aims to assess the preventive effects of green tea infusion and epicatechin on doxorubicin (Dox)-induced kidney and heart injuries and oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. The male Wistar rats administered Dox at an intraperitoneal dose of 4 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)/ week were orally treated with green tea infusion (200 mg/kg b.w.) and epicatechin (25 mg/kg b.w.) every other day for 6 weeks. The treatments of Dox-administered rats with green tea infusion and epicatechin resulted in a significant decrease in the elevated serum creatinine, urea and uric acid levels reflecting an improvement in kidney function. Similarly, the elevated serum CK-MB, LDH and AST activities were significantly ameliorated as a result of treatments of Dox-administered rats, thereby manifesting an amendment of heart function. The treatments also led to the prevention of the elevated lipid peroxidation and amelioration of the lowered GPx and GST activities as well as GSH content in kidney and heart. However, the SOD activity was not significantly altered in kidney and heart as a result of treatment of Dox-administered rats with green tea infusion and epicatechin. Also, the treatments remarkably improved Dox-induced deleterious histological alterations and inflammatory changes in kidney and heart in association with a significant decrease in serum TNF-α and an increase in serum IL-4 level. In conclusion, the green tea infusion and epicatechin may have chemopreventive potentials against Dox-induced nephrocardio-toxicity via suppression of oxidative stress, enhancement of antioxidant defense system and attenuation of inflammatory effects.