Telfairia occidentalis seed extract and fractions mitigated doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

Telfaira occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae) seeds are used in the preparation of soups and as medicine traditionally to treat various diseases. This study was designed to investigate the antidotal potentials of the crude extract and fractions of Telfairia occidentalis seed against doxorubicin-induced heart toxicity in rats. The seed extract (138-553 mg/kg) and fractions (dichloromethane and aqueous, 276 mg/kg) of the plant were investigated for antioxidative stress and cardioprotective potentials against doxorubicin-induced heart toxicity in rat.  Effect of the seed extract and fractions on cardiac marker enzymes, oxidative stress markers, lipid profile indices and heart histology were used as parameters to assess the cardioprotective effect of the extract and fractions. The seed extract and fractions (138-553 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05-0.01) reduced the serum levels of CK-MB, LDH and troponin I that were elevated by doxorubincin.  Also, the levels of GSH, SOD, GPx and CAT in the heart that were decreased by doxorubicin were significantly (p<0.01) elevated and the raised MDA level was reduced by the seed extract and fractions. The seed extract and fractions also reduced significantly (p<0.05) the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL of the treated rats elevated by doxorubicin. Histology sections of hearts of extract/fractions -treated animals showed reductions in the pathological features compared to the organotoxic-treated animals. The chemical pathological changes were consistent with histopathological observations suggesting marked cardioprotective  potentials.  The anti-toxic effect of this plant may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant.  The seed extract of Telfairia occidentalis possesses anti-toxicant properties which can be exploited in the treatment of poisoning.