Abstract

CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION OF LANTANA CAMARA LEAF AGAINST CCl4-INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY IN WISTAR RATS

Abba Boniface Ejike*, Njoku Ugochi Olivia, Odo Chigozie Paul and Ilonze Chikaodili Pauline

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally. The study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of the ethylacetate fraction of Lantana camara leaf in CCl4-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty-eight albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups of four rats each. Group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 was the negative control (administered CCl4 2.5ml/kg intraperitoneally), groups 3 and 4 served as the positive controls (pretreated with 1.2mg/kg aspirin and 2 mg/kg carvedilol respectively), group 5 to 7 were pretreated with 200mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg of the fraction respectively. The experiment lasted for 14 days, on days 13 and 14, the animals were induced with 2.5ml/kg b.w CCl4 intraperitoneally. The fraction significantly caused a reduction in the concentrations of troponin, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase compared to the untreated group. The enhanced CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation was abated amongst the treated groups compared to the untreated group. Restoration of the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase towards normal was observed when compared with the negative group which produced significant decreases in the enzymatic antioxidant activities. The Histoarchitecture was recovered by the fraction. The molecular docking and post-docking analysis showed promising results, the phytoconstituents comply with Lipinski's rule, making them potentially safe for therapeutic use. The significant restoration of cardiac function biomarkers and enzymatic antioxidants toward normal levels possibly indicates the fraction’s cardioprotective potentials, which could be helpful in ameliorating cardiotoxicity.

Keywords: Lantana camara, cardiovascular disease, cardiotoxicity, antioxidant enzymes, molecular docking.