The differential effects of green tea on dose-dependent doxorubicin toxicity.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer drug displaying cardiac and hepatic adverse effects mostly dependent on oxidative stress. Green tea (GT) has been reported to play a protective role in diseases resulting from oxidative stress.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate if GT protects against DOX-induced oxidative stress, heart and liver morphological changes, and metabolic disorders.

Methods: Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injection of DOX (1.0 or 2.0 mg/kg b.w.) for 7 weeks or concomitantly GT extract soluble in drinking water.

Results: There were multidirectional effects of GT on blood metabolic parameters changed by DOX. Among all tested biochemical parameters, statistically significant protection of GT against DOX-induced changes was revealed in case of blood fatty acid-binding protein, brain natriuretic peptide, and superoxide dismutase.

Conclusion: DOX caused oxidative stress in both organs. It was inhibited by GT in the heart but remained unchanged in the liver. DOX-induced general toxicity and histopathological changes in the heart and in the liver were mitigated by GT at a higher dose of DOX and augmented in rats treated with a lower dose of the drug.