Chemoprotective effect of plant phenolics against anthracycline-induced toxicity on rat cardiomyocytes. Part II. caffeic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids.

The chemoprotective effects of caffeic (CA), chlorogenic (CHA) and rosmarinic (RA) acids were tested against the toxicity of doxorubicin (DOX) in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and the iron-dependent DOX induced lipid peroxidation of heart membranes, mitochondria and microsomes. The protectivity of these acids was compared with dexrazoxan, used as an adjuvant during DOX chemotherapy. The cytoprotective effects were assessed by enzyme (LDH and ASAT) and troponin I leakage, secondly by intracellular ATP content.

Biological activities of Prunella vulgaris extract.

The organic fraction (OF; 25.7% w/w of rosmarinic acid) of Prunella vulgaris (total extract) was found to exhibit the following: scavenging activity on diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), inhibition of in vitro human LDL Cu(II)-mediated oxidation, protection of rat mitochondria and rat hepatocytes exposed to either tert-butyl hydroperoxide, or to Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions. OF also showed a potential to inhibit rat erythrocyte haemolysis and it reduced the production of LTB(4) in bovine PMNL generated by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.