Cardioprotective Effects of Lycopene against Cadmium Induced Toxicity in Albino Mice

Objective and Study Design: The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the protective efficacy of lycopene on cadmium induced toxicity in heart of albino mice. Materials and Methods: 24 Albino mice were divided into four groups. Group I mice were kept as control. Group II animals were administered a single dose of cadmium chloride (0.32mg/kg bw) intraperitoneally. Group III animals were injected with 20mg/kg bw of olive oil (positive control). Group IV animals were injected a single dose of CdCl2 followed by a chronic dose of lycopene (20mg/kg bw). Autopsies were done at the intervals of 1, 5, 10 and 15 days post treatment. Results: Cadmium administration led to decrease in weight of heart in mice as compared to control. Histopathological analysis in heart showed extensive haemorrhage between the cardiac myocytes and the blood vessels showed endothelial thickening with peri-vascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. Lycopene administration to mice showed increase in weight of heart and showed significant protection by alleviating cadmium induced cardiac injury. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the present study that that lycopene treatment is able to prevent cadmium induced cardiac injury in mice.