The differential effects of green tea on dose-dependent doxorubicin toxicity

Background : Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer drug displaying cardiac and hepatic adverse effects mostly dependent on oxidative stress. Green tea (GT) has been reported to play a protective role in diseases resulting from oxidative stress. Objective : The objective of this study was to evaluate if GT protects against DOX-induced oxidative stress, heart and liver morphological changes, and metabolic disorders. Methods : Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injection of DOX (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg b.w.) for 7 weeks or concomitantly GT extract soluble in drinking water. Results : There were multidirectional effects of GT on blood metabolic parameters changed by DOX. Among all tested biochemical parameters, statistically significant protection of GT against DOX-induced changes was revealed in case of blood fatty acid–binding protein, brain natriuretic peptide, and superoxide dismutase. Conclusion : DOX caused oxidative stress in both organs. It was inhibited by GT in the heart but remained unchanged in the liver. DOX-induced general toxicity and histopathological changes in the heart and in the liver were mitigated by GT at a higher dose of DOX and augmented in rats treated with a lower dose of the drug. Keywords: cardiotoxicity; doxorubicin; green tea; catechins; oxidative stress (Published: 21 December 2015) Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2015, 59: 29754 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v59.29754