Curative Effects of Aqueous and Ethanol Stem Bark Extracts of Vitex doniana on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) constitute the number one cause of mortality at the global level, representing 30% of all global deaths. Therefore, finding ways to reduce deaths due to CVDs remain an important public health goal. Traditional healers in northern Nigeria use the stem bark of Vitex doniana to treat hypertensive patients. This study was aimed to investigate the cardiocurative potential of Vitex doniana on doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity in rats.

Methods: Thirty five (35) adult Albino rats weighing 175 ± 25 g were used, of which 30 were induced with cardiotoxicity by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) for three consecutive days. Rats were treated by oral administration of Silymarin (100 mg/kg) and Vitex doniana aqueous or ethanol extract (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days and thereafter were sacrificed on the 15th day. Blood, plasma and serum were analyzed for lipid profile and serum markers for cardiotoxicity.

Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids and glycosides. Oral treatment with Vitex doniana extracts significantly (p<0.05) lowered the elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL but significantly (p<0.05) increased the level of HDL (18.61 ± 0.55 mg/dl to 57.98 ± 0.78 mg/dl). The extracts also significantly (p<0.05) decreased the levels of serum marker enzymes for cardiotoxicity ALT, AST, CK – mb and LDH.

Conclusion: The prophylactic cardiocurative use of Vitex doniana stem bark has been confirmed in this study as the extracts exhibited hypolipidemic and cardiocurative effects in dose dependent manner in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity rat model.