[Effects of berberine on ischemic ventricular arrhythmia]

The effects of berberine on ischemic ventricular arrhythmias induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) of canine were reported. The results showed that berberine was able to get 99% suppression (P less than 0.001) on the total ventricular premature beats (VPCs) by 12 hours after ligature of LAD, the paired VPCs, ventricular tachycardias and VPCs with R on T were also significantly suppressed; and the ventricular tachycardia induced by programmed ventricular stimulation was effectively inhibited by berberine. In addition, the results revealed that the decrease of cardiac output caused by ligature of LAD was obviously attenuated by berberine. The mechanisms of the antiarrhythmic effect of berberine on ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmias were discussed.