Trehalose alleviates doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity in female Swiss albino mice by suppression of oxidative stress and autophagy

Abstract Clinically, the use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited due to DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). The current study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of trehalose (TRE) against DIC in a female Swiss albino mouse model. Mice were divided into five experimental groups: Gp. I: saline control group (200 μl/mouse saline three times per week for 3 weeks day after day), Gp. II: DOX‐treated group (2 mg/kg body weight three times per week for 3 weeks day after day), Gp. III: TRE group (200 μg/mouse three times per week for 3 weeks day after day), Gp. IV: DOX + TRE cotreatment group (animals were coadministered with DOX and TRE as in Gp. II and III, respectively), and Gp. V: DOX + TRE posttreatment group (animals were treated with DOX as in Gp. II followed by treatment with TRE as in Gp. III). DOX‐treated mice showed significant elevation in cardiac injury biomarkers (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase isoenzyme‐MB, and cardiac troponin I), cardiac oxidative stress (OS) markers (malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase), and cardiac levels of autophagy‐related protein 5. Moreover, DOX significantly reduced the levels of total antioxidant capacity and activities of catalase and glutathione S‐transferase. In contrast, TRE treatment of DOX‐administered mice significantly improved almost all of the above‐mentioned assessed parameters. Furthermore, histopathological changes of cardiac tissues observed in mice treated with TRE in combination with DOX were significantly improved as compared to DOX‐treated animals. Taken together, the present study provides evidence that TRE has cardioprotective effects against DIC, which is likely mediated via suppression of OS and autophagy.