Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the protective role of a combination of B vitamins (B3, B6 and B12) against the cardiotoxic impact of either bulk zinc oxide (ZnO-bulk) or its nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs)-induced cardiac infarction. ZnO-bulk and ZnO-NPs ( <100 nm) were administered orally at 500mg/kg body weight for 10 consecutive days. The results revealed that co-administration of a combination of B vitamins (250 mg B3, 60 mg B6 and 0.6 mg B12/Kg body weight) daily for 3 weeks to rats intoxicated by either ZnO-bulk or ZnO-NPs markedly ameliorated increases in serum markers of cardiac infarction, including troponin T, creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehdrogenase (LDH), as well as increases in proinflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and C-reactive protein (CRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), compared with intoxicated untreated rats. The B vitamins could also modulate the alterations in cardiac DNA damage, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and caspase 3 in response to either ZnO- bulk or ZnO-NPs toxicity. In conclusion, early treatment with the used combination of B vitamins may protect cardiac tissue from damaging toxic impact of ZnO-bulk or ZnO-NPs.