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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
In vitro Assessment of Myocardial Protection following Hypothermia-Preconditioning in a Human Cardiac Myocytes Model
Published on: October 27, 2020
Withania somnifera provides cardioprotection and attenuates ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis
Ipseeta Ray Mohanty1, Dharamvir Singh Arya, Suresh Kumar Gupta
1Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 29, India.
Background & Aims:
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective mechanisms of Withania somnifera (Ws), in the setting of ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury.
Methods:
Wistar rats were divided into three groups and received orally saline (sham, control IR) and Ws-50 mg/kg (Ws-IR), respectively, for 1 month. On the 31st day, in the rats of control IR and Ws-IR group, LAD coronary artery occlusion was undertaken for 45 min followed by 1 h reperfusion. Subsequently, all the animals were sacrificed for biochemical, immunohistochemical {Bax and Bcl-2 protein}, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity and histopathological studies.
Results:
Post-ischemic reperfusion injury resulted in significant cardiac necrosis, apoptosis, decline in antioxidant status and elevation in lipid peroxidation in the IR control group as compared to sham. Ws prior-treatment favorably restored the myocardial oxidant-antioxidant balance, exerted marked anti-apoptotic effects {upregulated Bcl-2 (p<0.001) protein, decreased Bax (p<0.01) protein, and attenuated TUNEL positivity (p<0.01)}, and reduced myocardial damage as evidenced by histopathologic evaluation.
Conclusions:
The antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties of Ws may contribute to the cardioprotective effects.
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