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Coconut Haustorium Maintains Cardiac Integrity and Alleviates Oxidative Stress in Rats Subjected to
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram-695 581, India.
Insights
Aqueous extract of coconut haustorium demonstrated significant cardioprotective effects against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. This natural extract reduced cardiac damage and enhanced antioxidant activity, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Isoproterenol-induced MI in animal models is a standard method for evaluating cardioprotective agents.
- Exploring natural compounds for cardiovascular protection is crucial for developing novel therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cardioprotective effects of aqueous coconut haustorium extract against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Sprague Dawley rats.
- To assess the impact of the extract on cardiac marker enzymes and antioxidant status.
- To evaluate the histopathological changes in the heart tissue.
Main Methods:
- Rats were pretreated orally with aqueous coconut haustorium extract (40 mg/100 g) for 45 days.
- Myocardial infarction was induced by subcutaneous isoproterenol injection.
- Serum and heart tissue levels of marker enzymes (LDH, CK-MB, AST, ALT) and antioxidant enzymes were analyzed.
- Histopathological examination of cardiac tissue was performed.
Main Results:
- Isoproterenol administration significantly increased serum cardiac enzymes and decreased heart enzyme levels, indicating cardiac damage.
- Pretreatment with coconut haustorium extract significantly reduced these enzyme level alterations.
- The extract treatment led to increased antioxidant enzyme activities and decreased lipid peroxidation in the myocardium.
- Histopathology revealed near-normal heart tissue morphology in rats pretreated with the extract.
Conclusions:
- Aqueous extract of coconut haustorium exhibits significant cardioprotective properties against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.
- The extract demonstrates potent antioxidant effects, mitigating cardiac damage.
- Coconut haustorium holds promise as a natural therapeutic agent for cardiovascular protection.
Abstract:
The present study evaluates the effect of aqueous extract of coconut haustorium on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were pretreated with aqueous extract of coconut haustorium (40 mg/100 g) orally for 45 days. After pretreatment, myocardial infarction was induced by injecting isoproterenol subcutaneously (20 mg/100 g body weight) twice at an interval of 24 h. Activity of marker enzymes like lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine kinase-MB, aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase were increased in the serum and decreased in the heart of isoproterenol treated rats indicating cardiac damage. These changes were significantly reduced in haustorium pretreated rats. Moreover, an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and decrease in the levels of peroxidation products were observed in the myocardium of coconut haustorium pretreated rats. Histopathology of the heart of these rats showed almost normal tissue morphology. From these results, it is clear that aqueous extract of coconut haustorium possess significant cardioprotective and antioxidant properties during isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.
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