Phytomedicine has shown a promising potential for the prevention of cardiovascular system diseases and disorders. This study aimed to evaluate protective effect of ergosterol (ER) on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial cardiotoxicity. We found that pretreatment with ER significantly decreased levels of myocardial CK-MB and LDH, and alleviated myocardial damage induced by ISO in rat model. In addition, ER restored Nrf2 and HO-1 expression and inhibited apoptosis through upregulating Bcl-2 and downregulating Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP in rat hearts. Hypoxia-reoxygenation model in H9C2 cells confirmed the cardioprotective effects of ER. In conclusion, we provide both in vitro and in vivo evidence that ER significantly enhances Nrf2-mediated anti-oxidative activities, and exerts a protective effect on cardiomyocyte apoptosis. ER could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent to prevent myocardial injury.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Ergosterol; Isoproterenol; Myocardial injury; Oxidative stress.