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Abstract

Docetaxel (Doc) is an antitumor drug used to treat various types of cancers. However, it has certain limitations in clinical use due to its side effects. The major objective of this study was to assess the antitumor activity and cardiotoxicity of the Doc loaded in a nanoemulsion formulated with the garlic oil (Doc-NEGO) in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC)-bearing mice. One hundred mice were split into five groups (n = 20). Groups I and II served as untreated mice and untreated EAC-bearing mice, respectively. Groups III-V represented the EAC-bearing mice administered orally by Doc-NEGO, NEGO and Doc dissolved in distilled water, respectively. The antitumor activity included the measurement of the mean survival time (MST) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in the tumor ascetic fluid. The cardiotoxicity was identified by determining the serum enzymes and analyzing the oxidative stress in the heart tissue. It has been found that the z-average diameters of the nanoparticles of NEGO and Doc-NEGO, determined by the zetasizer, were 63.19 ± 1.85 nm and 110.43 ± 14.37 nm, respectively. The administration of NEGO in the EAC-bearing mice has enhanced the LDH activity in the ascetic fluid and ameliorated the heart enzymes when compared to the other groups. Treating the EAC-bearing mice with the Doc-NEGO has improved the MST of the mice (27.7 ± 11.63 days) relative to the MST of EAC-bearing mice treated with Doc-water (23.1 ± 1.52 days). In conclusion, NEGO holds a great potential as a nanocarrier for the Doc in improving its efficacy and eliminating its cardiotoxicity.