Research Article Potent Protective Effect of Lacidipine, Carvacrol and Lacidipine-Carvacrol Combination Against 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

Background and Objective: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the second most common cardiotoxic chemotherapeutic drug. Inflammation and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathogenesis of 5- FU-induced cardiotoxicity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of lacidipine and carvacrol, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, against 5-FU-induced cardiotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into a control group (HC) and groups receiving 5-FU (FU), 5-FU+lacidipine (LFU), 5-FU+carvacrol (CFU), or 5-FU+lacidipine+carvacrol (LCFU). Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) from heart tissue and Creatine Kinase MB (CK-MB) and troponin I (TP-I) from plasma were evaluated. Results: The SOD and CAT activities and GSH levels were significantly lower in the FU group than HC, LFU, CFU and LCFU groups (p<0.001). The MDA, IL-6, TP-I and CK-MB levels were significantly higher in the FU group than HC, LFU, CFU and LCFU groups (p<0.001). Differences between HC and LCFU groups were detected only in terms of GSH (p = 0.09). Conclusion: The lacidipine and carvacrol are effective against 5-FU-induced cardiotoxicity, but a combination is more effective.