Context: Doxorubicin (DOX), a very active chemotherapeutic agent, has been implicated in the development of myocardial infarction. Oxidative stress is said to be one of the underlying mechanisms through which doxorubicin causes cardiotoxicity.

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of the ethanol root bark extract of Cleistopholis patens against DOX-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Materials and methods: Albino rats were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. Groups I, II and III served as normal, positive and standard (Vasoprin 150 mg/kg bw) controls respectively while groups IV, V and VI were orally treated with the extract (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg bw) for two weeks prior to intraperitoneal induction of cardiotoxicity with Doxorubicin (20 mg/kg bw) on day 14. Biochemical indices such as cardiac troponin I (cTnI), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were assayed for and histopathological examination of heart tissues was performed to validate results.

Results: Myocardial infarction was confirmed by significant changes (p < 0.05) in cTnI, MDA, GSH levels and SOD, CAT, AST, ALT activities in the DOX control group compared to the normal control. However, administration of the extract significantly (p < 0.05) restored all the biochemical alterations and reversed the histomorphological changes in the heart.

Conclusion: The ethanol root bark extract of Cleistopholis patens demonstrated promising cardioprotective effect and can be exploited in the synthesis of novel therapeutic agents.