Evaluation of Ficus Religiosa in Comparison to Captopril Against Experimental Cardiotoxicity Due to 5-Fluorouracil in Rats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Ficus religiosa against 5-FU induced toxicity in rats.A total of 36 healthy male wistar rats of uniform age and weights were divided into 6 groups of 6 animals each.Normal saline (I), Ficus religiosa extract (II), Captopril (III) groups were control while next 3 groups (IV, V, VI) were concurrently treated with 5-FU, 5-FU+ FRLE, FU + CA. respectively for 14 day lipid peroxidation level was significantly higher while superoxide dismutase activity reduces in 5FU exposed groups.GST activity was significantly lower in vehicle control, Ficus religiosa and Captopril alone groups, concurrent treatment FR with FU showed decreased in LPO level and improvement in SOD, GST, GPx activities comparable to control groups.Histopathology study showed dilatation of cardiac muscle fiber, focal atrophy of cardiomyocyte with severe interstitial edema, and dilated blood vessels in 5-FU group.control groups showed no notable abnormal histological changes compared to 5-FU toxic control group.Heart sections of rats treated with 5-FU + FRLE, and 5-FU + Captopril showed morphology similar to that of control and exhibited reduced damage to cardiac architecture with fewer areas of congestion along with vacuolization.However, there was congestion of blood capillaries, swelling around the nuclei and focal haemorrhage in between the myocardial bundle.TEM of left ventricular myocardium of 5-FU toxic control group confirmed the light microscopic findings and revealed irregular nuclear envelope, dilated myofibrils with degenerating nucleus, dilatation of nucleus, dilatation of sarcoplasmic reticulum, disorganized, electron-dense and bizarre shaped mitochondria and congestion of blood capillaries.5-FU significantly altered all parameters in study while groups that received FRLE and CA along with 5FU revealed significant improvement in all the parameters and the values were comparable to control group.Thus, it can be concluded that 5-FU is an anticancer that can cause cytotoxic effect, administration of FRLE altered those effects due to its antioxidant effect.