Tianjin Medical Journal ›› 2026, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (4): 358-363.doi: 10.11958/20252608

• Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on the preventive and therapeutic effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity

ZHAI Zhihong1(), LI Runqi2, DU Qingqing3, QIN Wenjuan4   

  1. 1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
    2 Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
    3 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
    4 Department of Ultrasound Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
  • Received:2025-07-29 Revised:2025-10-08 Published:2026-04-15 Online:2026-04-14

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) on doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty-six 6-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=6 for each group): the control group (control), the doxorubicin group (DOX), the doxorubicin+low-dose GSPE group (L-GSPE), the doxorubicin+medium-dose GSPE group (M-GSPE), the doxorubicin+ high-dose GSPE group (H-GSPE) and the doxorubicin+tert-butylhydroquinone group (TBHQ). Except for the control group, rats in the other groups were injected intraperitoneally with doxorubicin (2.5 mg/kg) once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks to establish the chronic cardiotoxicity model. The control group received equal volume of intraperitoneal injection of 0.9% NaCl solution (1 mL/kg). Starting from the first day of doxorubicin injection, the L-GSPE, M-GSPE and H-GSPE groups were administered GSPE solutions at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively, via oral gavage. The TBHQ group was given 25 mg/kg TBHQ solution, while the control group and the DOX group were given an equal volume of ddH2O. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated using echocardiography. Cardiac tissue morphology and fibrosis were observed via HE and Masson staining. Serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured using commercial kits and ELISA. Western blot assay and qRT-PCR were employed to assess protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and HO-1 in cardiac tissue. Results Compared with the DOX group, the cardiac structure and function, myocardial injury and fibrosis were all improved in the GSPE-treated groups, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, cTnT and BNP decreased, and serum SOD activity, protein and mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 increased. Notably, the H-GSPE group demonstrated more significant improvement compared to the L-GSPE group (P<0.05). Conclusion GSPE may exert preventive and therapeutic effects against doxorubicin-induced chronic cardiotoxicity by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Key words: doxorubicin, cardiotoxicity, heme oxygenase-1, grape seed proanthocyanidin extract, Nrf2 signaling pathway

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