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Trastuzumab (TZM) treatment is known to be associated with arrhythmogenic potential which primarily is the basis for its cardiotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute influence of oral pretreatments with 100 mg/kg/day of Ocimun gratissimum ethanolic leaf extract (OG) and its fractions (petroleum ether, PEOG; ethyl acetate, EAOG; and ethanolic extract, EOG) as well as valsartan-lisinopril fixed dose combination (VAL-LSP) on electrocardiogram (ECG) of Wistar rats intaperitoneally treated with 2.25 mg/kg/day TZM for 7 days. Young adult male Wistar rats were randomly allotted into 12 groups of 6 rats per group. The rats were subjected to electrocardiograms (ECG) measurement using non-invasive procedures on days 1 and 7 of the experiment. Results showed that oral pretreatment with OG and its fractions (except EOG) as well as VAL-LSP fixed dose combination did not cause any remarkable changes in the ECG patterns of TZM-treated rats indicating that their relative oral safety in TZM chemotherapy. On the other hand, EOG pretreatment caused significant shortening of the OT/QTc interval in the TZM-treated rats highlighting the arrhthymogenic potential of this fraction. Overall, the study highlighted the arrhythmogenic potential of EOG in TZM chemotherapy while OG and its other solvent fractions as well as VAL-LSP could be considered relatively safe for use as adjuvants in TZM chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nutritional and therapeutic benefits of lycopene from red tomatoes and its products cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hypolipidaemic effect of lycopene in three different preparations of red tomatoes in hyperlipidemic rats. Forty male Wistar rats were used for the study. The rats were divided into four groups (A - D) of 10 animals each. Group A was used as the control and received basal home diet throughout the duration of the experiment. Groups B, C, and D were fed with hyperlipidemic diets for one month, followed by lycopene in three different preparations of red tomatoes (Raw tomatoes, Tomato juice, and Cooked tomatoes) for another one month. Body weight and growth rate of the rats were monitored. The serum lipid profiles of the rats after administration of the hyperlipidaemic diet as well as after treatment with red tomato preparations were determined following standard procedures. Results showed that lycopene reduced weight gain induced by hyperlipidaemic diet, increased faecal fat content, and significantly reduced hyperlipidaemia in rats. The cooked tomatoes had the greatest effect in lowering serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and increasing high density lipoprotein levels. This suggests that lycopene present in cooked tomatoes are more readily absorbed in the intestine and therefore achieve higher concentration in the blood. Based on the findings from this study, dietary red tomatoes rich in lycopene may play a significant role in weight reduction, and in lowering plasma cholesterol which directly or indirectly reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]