Prevention of Amiodarone-Induced Pulmonary and Cardiac Toxicity in Male Balb/C Mice by A Nutrient Mixture

M.W. Roomi, N.W Roomi, M. Rath and A. NiedzwieckiDr. Rath Research Institute, 1260 Memorex Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Presented at: 
51st Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology, March 11-15, 2012, San Francisco, CA

Published in: 
The Toxicologist, vol 126(1), Abstract #2413, pg 521

Abstract

Introduction:
Amiodarone (Am), a potent anti-arrhythmic drug, is associated with life threatening pulmonary toxicity involving fibroses and inflammation. A unique nutrient mixture (NM) consisting of lysine, proline, ascorbic acid and green tea has previously been shown to exhibit a broad spectrum of pharmacological, therapeutic, cardiovascular and chemopreventive properties.

Objective

This study was undertaken to determine whether NM exhibits preventive effects on Am-induced pulmonary and cardiac toxicity.

Materials and Methods

Six-week old male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups (A-D) of six animals per group. Mice in groups A and C were fed a regular diet for three weeks, while those in groups B and D mice were supplemented with 1% NM during that period. After three weeks mice in groups C and D received daily injections of 50 mg Am/kg intraperitoneally for 4 days, and group A and B received saline alone. After 24 h, mice were sacrificed, blood was withdrawn by cardiac puncture, serum was collected for clinical chemistry, and livers, kidneys, hearts and lungs were excised and weighed.

Results 

There were no differences in weight gain and food consumed in control and test groups (A-D). Liver, kidney, heart and lung weights were comparable in all four groups. Administration of Am to group C resulted in significant increase in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), whereas in the NM fed group D the serum CPK was not affected and comparable to the saline injection groups A and B. Am administration also resulted in significant increase in serum marker for heart aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in group C animals, but not in group D mice, which exhibited similar levels to that in groups A and B.

Conclusions 

The results indicate that NM has the potential to protect against Am-induced pulmonary and cardiac toxicity.

Comment

Amiodarone (Am) is a potent anti-arrhythmic drug that is associated with life threatening pulmonary toxicity involving fibroses and inflammation. This study was undertaken to determine whether NM, a unique nutrient mixture consisting of lysine, proline, ascorbic acid and green tea exhibits preventive effects on Am-induced pulmonary and cardiac toxicity. Male Balb/c mice were either fed a regular diet or a diet supplemented with 1% NM for three weeks. After three weeks mice either received daily injections of 50 mg Am/kg intraperitoneally or saline for 4 days. Administration of Am to mice fed the control diet resulted in significant increase in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), whereas in the NM fed group, the serum levels were not affected and comparable to the saline injection groups. These results are significant as they indicate that NM has the potential to protect against Am-induced pulmonary and cardiac toxicity

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http://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2014.1518