Frankincense-loaded chitosan nanoparticles attenuate doxorubicin-induced reproductive and cardiac toxicity.

Frankincense-loaded chitosan nanoparticles attenuate doxorubicin-induced reproductive and cardiac toxicity by reducing oxidative stress and restoring the hormonal balance in male albino rats.

Hajer Ammar, Abdu Rahman Mohamed, Ahmed Emam Dakrory, Maha Nagy Abdelaziz

Tissue Cell

Jun 10, 2026

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic used as primary therapy for several cancers. It causes adverse effects, including cardiotoxicity and gonadotoxicity. Frankincense has historical significance in conventional medicine and contains biologically active ingredients, includingα-Amyrin triterpenoids, phenolic compounds,α-boswellic acid, andβ-boswellic acid, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. OBJECTIVE: The present investigation seeks to assess the efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) loaded with frankincense oil (Froil) in mitigating testicular and cardiac damage caused by DOX in male rats. METHODS: 30 male Wistar rats were allocated into five groups: control, DOX (3 mg/kg/weekly), DOX (3 mg/kg/weekly) + ChNPs (60 mg/kg/daily), DOX (3 mg/kg/weekly) + Froil(100 mg/kg/daily), and DOX (3 mg/kg/weekly) + frankincense nanoparticles (FrNPs) (60 mg/kg/daily). RESULTS: DOX markedly decreased sperm parameters, levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, and increased cardiac function markers, oxidative stress markers in testicular and cardiac tissues, inflammation, apoptotic markers, and DNA damage. Conversely, Administration of FrNPs notably improved sperm parameters and levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, B-cell lymphoma 2, and testicular and cardiac antioxidants (Glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and glutathione reduced). Furthermore, it reduced the activities of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and myeloperoxidase, and levels of testicular and cardiac (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and DNA fragmentation). FrNPs administration mitigated the histological alterations induced by DOX in the testis and heart and reduced testicular caspase-3 expression. CONCLUSION: The protective efficacy of FrNPs against cardiac and testicular damage generated by DOX was achieved by improving physical parameters, serum biochemical alteration, fertility parameters, the antioxidant system, histochemical architecture, and DNA damage.