Amelioration of Isoproterenol-Induced Oxidative Damage in Rat Myocardium by Withania somnifera Leaf Extract

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:624159. doi: 10.1155/2015/624159. Epub 2015 Oct 11.

Abstract

We investigated the protective role of Withania somnifera leaf extract (WSLEt) on isoproterenol- (ISO-) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Subcutaneous injection of ISO (85 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) administered to rats for two consecutive days caused a significant increase in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels and serum lipid profiles, as well as the activities of some marker enzymes. In addition to these diagnostic markers, there were increased levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and decreased activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)) in the myocardium. However, oral pretreatment (100 mg/kg b.w.) with WSLEt for 4 weeks elicited a significant cardioprotective activity by lowering the levels of cTnI, lipid profiles, and marker enzymes. The levels of LPO products were also significantly decreased. Elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes were also observed in rats pretreated with WSLEt. As further confirmed histopathologically, our findings strongly suggest that the cardioprotective effect of WSLEt on myocardium experiencing ISO-induced oxidative damage may be due to an augmentation of the endogenous antioxidant system and an inhibition of LPO in the myocardial membrane. We conclude that WSLEt confers some protection against oxidative damage in ISO-induced MI in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Humans
  • Isoproterenol / toxicity
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipids / blood
  • Myocardial Infarction / blood
  • Myocardial Infarction / chemically induced
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood
  • Troponin I / blood
  • Withania / chemistry

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Lipids
  • Plant Extracts
  • Troponin I
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Isoproterenol