| Summary: | Abstract Background Doxorubicin (DOX) is commonly used in the treatment of many types of cancers but its cardiotoxicity is limiting its clinical use. Beyond its anticoagulant action, enoxaparin (ENX), a low molecular weight heparin, has been shown to exert multiple pharmacological actions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess if ENX could ameliorate cardiotoxicity induced by DOX. Methods Twenty-one adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 7 each) of control, receiving 0.9% saline (i.p.), DOX, receiving 2.5 mg/kg of DOX (i.p.) thrice weekly; and DOX + ENX, receiving ENX (250 IU/kg/day i.p.) and a DOX dose equivalent to that of the DOX only group. Results DOX-induced cardiotoxicity was indicated by marked increases in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and severe histological lesions, which significantly correlated with cardiotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis markers, compared to controls. DOX group also showed elevations in malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, and reductions in total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Cardiac inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and caspase-3, an apoptotic marker, were also elevated in the DOX group. DOX, however, did not significantly alter brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. ENX significantly attenuated, but not completely reversed, DOX-induced cardiotoxicity through lowering cTnI and improving cardiomyopathy histopathological scores as compared to the DOX group. ENX also decreased MDA, increased TAC of rats’ heart to levels relatively comparable to control. Significant reductions in TNF-α, IL-1β and caspase-3 were also observed following ENX treatment relative to the DOX only group. Conclusions Collectively, these results describe a cardioprotective effect for ENX against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity which is likely facilitated via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
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