Cardioprotective effect of linseed oil against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats: a biochemical and electrocardiographic study

J Physiol Biochem. 2015 Jun;71(2):281-8. doi: 10.1007/s13105-015-0411-2. Epub 2015 Apr 25.

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Tunisian flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying hypertensive and cardiac damage markers especially electrocardiographic changes and troponin T serum level. In vitro, the extracted oil showed an important inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 = 85.96 μg/ml. According to chemical analysis, this extract is composed essentially of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (58.59 %). Male rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely control (C), isoproterenol (ISO), and isoproterenol-treated group with flaxseed oil (FO + ISO). Isoproterenol injection showed changes in ECG pattern, including ST-segment elevation (diagnostic of myocardial infarction), increase in the serum levels of Troponin T and cardiac injury markers (creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT)). However, Linum oil pre-co-treatment prevented almost all the parameters isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Results of the present study proved that flaxseed oil has a significant effect by heart protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction through beneficial effect of the important fraction of ALA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Cardiotonic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Enzymes / blood
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Flax / chemistry
  • Isoproterenol / adverse effects*
  • Linseed Oil / chemistry*
  • Linseed Oil / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / chemically induced
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism
  • Myocardial Infarction / prevention & control*
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Troponin T / metabolism

Substances

  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Enzymes
  • Fatty Acids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Troponin T
  • Linseed Oil
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Isoproterenol