EFFECT OF ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF CRASSULACEA AND BISOPROLOL ON INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN DOXORUBICIN INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY

ABSTRACT Doxorubicin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of several malignancies; however, its clinical usefulness is limited by its cardiotoxic side effects. The development of cardiotoxicity following doxorubicin administration has been associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and myocardial injury. This study investigated the effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae and bisoprolol on inflammatory biomarkers in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. An experimental study was conducted using healthy adult Wistar rats which were randomly divided into five groups. The control group received normal saline, while cardiotoxicity was induced in the remaining groups using doxorubicin. Treatment groups received bisoprolol, ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae, or a combination of both following induction of cardiotoxicity. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Inflammatory biomarkers including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also evaluated to assess antioxidant status. The results showed that administration of doxorubicin significantly increased inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress markers compared to the control group. Treatment with bisoprolol and ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae significantly reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, and MDA while improving antioxidant enzyme activity. The combined treatment group demonstrated the most pronounced protective effect against doxorubicin-induced cardiac inflammation and oxidative damage. The findings of this study suggest that ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae and bisoprolol possess cardioprotective properties capable of reducing inflammation and oxidative stress associated with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. These results indicate that plant-based therapies may serve as potential complementary agents in the management of chemotherapy-induced cardiac damage. Further studies are recommended to isolate the active compounds responsible for these protective effects and to evaluate their clinical relevance in human subjects.