Doxorubicin

Doxorubicin is a potent chemotherapeutic agent, but its clinical use is limited by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which can lead to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. This review discusses the potential of phyto constituent-based nanoformulations as cardioprotective adjuvants against doxorubicin. Encapsulating cardioprotective agents like herbal extracts, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory co0mpounds encompassing nanoparticles enhances their bioavailability and targeted delivery to cardiomyocytes. Various nanoparticle systems including polymeric (solid lipid), inorganic (mesoporous silica, gold), and nanocomposites have shown promise in mitigating doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cardiac injury in preclinical studies. The therapeutic effects of curcumin, resveratrol, thymoquinone, L-carnitine, and other agents were improved when delivered via nanoparticle. However, optimization of nanoparticle properties, targeted delivery strategies, long-term safety assessments, and clinical translation remain to be addressed. Nonetheless, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of cardioprotective agents holds great potential for reducing doxorubicin-associated cardiotoxicity and improving chemotherapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.

Doxorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic widely used as a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of several tumors. However, its cardiac toxicity limits its use at maximum therapeutic doses. Most studies implicated increased oxidative stress as the major determinant of DOX cardiotoxicity. Thevetia peruviana known to have antioxidant activity. The aim of the current study was to explore the potential protective effects of methanolic extract of Thevetia peruviana against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Methanolic extract of this plant showed significant cardioprotective effect by lowering the serum levels of various biochemical parameters like Creatinine  phosphokinase (CPK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) in the selected model. Additionally, histopathological examination indicated a protection against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The results also suggests that the biologically active phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, triterpenoids and tannins present in the methanolic extract of plant which is confirmed from the qualitative analysis may be responsible for the significant cardioprotective activity.