Cardioprotective and antioxidant effects of taxifolin and vitamin C against diazinone-induced myocardial injury in rats

In Iraq, excessive exposure to insecticides is increasingly becoming uncontrollable, the objective of this work was to assess the possible ameliorative role of taxifolin and vitamin c against diazinon-induced myocardial injury in rats. 36 sprague female rats divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 received diazinone 20 mg/kg gavaged for 30 days. Group 2 received taxifolin (25 mg/kg) and vitamin C (100 mg /kg) co-administered together and gavaged daily for 30 days before oral diazinone (20 mg/kg). Group 3 and group 4 were treated with taxifoline (25 mg/kg) and vitamin C (100 mg /kg) respectively, gavaged separately for 30 days before diazinone (20 mg/kg) administration. group 5 was considered as control 1 received taxifolin (25 mg/kg) and vitamin C (100 mg /kg) co-administered together and gavaged daily for 30 days. The last group, group 6 considered as control 2 which received vehicle of diazinon. Rats’ weights, water and food intake were measured and the general vital signs of rats were observed and noted. At the end of study, rats are sacrificed, blood withdrawn for biochemical analysis and heart were excised for glutathione peroxidase and pathological evaluation. Significant increase in body weights in all treated and control groups except group 1. Troponin, LDH, AST and ALT levels were significantly increased in group 1 revealing the existence of ischemia and damage in hearts. Treatment with taxifolin and vitamin C combination reduced their levels significantly to concentrations comparable to that in the control groups. Such finding supported by histopathological observation. Moreover, this study showed that diazinon administration significantly deteriorated lipid profile, co-administration of taxifolin and vitamin C was resulted in a significant improvement in lipid profile associated with increased in glutathione peroxidase values showing significant improvement in antioxidant levels. Sub-acute administration of pharmacological doses of taxifolin and vitamin C exerts cardioprotective effects against diazinon-induced myocardial injury in rats.