Cardioprotective Potentials of Vernonia amygdalina on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine Induced Toxicity in Rats

Background Cardiotoxicity is an emerging condition that occurs due to systemic toxicity resulting from 1,2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH) exposure. Until now, nothing is known about the role of Vernonia amygdalina in suppressing lipid abnormalities and oxidative stress caused by DMH cardiotoxicity in rats. Our novel treatment measures tend to be beneficial in combating heart toxicity resulting from DMH exposure. This study was conducted to investigate the cardioprotective potentials of Vernonia amygdalina on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine induced toxicity in rats . Methods Adult male Wistar rats were exposed to 1, 2 dimethylhydrazine (DMH) toxicity via the intraperitoneal route at a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight before and after treatment with lower (200 mg/kg body weight) and higher (400 mg/kg body weight) doses of Vernonia amygdalina ethanol extract. Lipid profile parameters, cardiovascular disease risks factors and oxidative stress markers were measured in plasma and heart tissue homogenates of rats using standardized protocols, while portions of the excised heart specimens were subjected to histopathological examination. Data analysis and post-hoc test for this study were performed using SPSS version 20. Results The concentrations of heart tissue antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, GSH, GR and GSH (%)) in the DMH group were significantly reduced (p<0.05) relative to control and the other groups. However, administration of ethanol extract of V. amygdalina to rats significantly increased (p<0.05) these levels when compared with the DMH group. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the mean values of cardiovascular disease risk factors, cardiac Nitric Oxide (NO), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the treatment groups when compared with control and DMH group. Heart tissues of DMH-induced rats treated with Vernonia amygdalina revealed a significant reduction (p<0.05) in organ weight relative to the control group. Histological studies revealed the protective and regenerative effects of Vernonia amygdalina on heart tissues. Conclusions The findings from this study indicates that Vernonia amygdalina can effectively suppress irregularities in the lipid profile, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and oxidative stress parameters caused by DMH toxicity due to its antioxidant properties. This impliesthat Vernonia amygdalina holds promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for improving DMH systemic toxicity.