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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies
Published on: April 11, 2012
Kudzu Celery Decoction Exerts Protection against Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Injury
Lin Zhao1,2,3, Huadong Zhao4, Meng Sun5
1Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No. 3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Northwest University, 10 Fengcheng Three Road, Xi'an, China.
Insights
Kudzu celery decoction (KCD) protects against sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) by improving cardiac function and reducing inflammation and fibrosis. This traditional Chinese medicine may offer a new therapeutic strategy for SIMI.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
Background:
- Sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) is a critical complication in critically ill patients, contributing to high mortality rates.
- SIMI involves complex mechanisms including impaired cardiac contractility, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
- Kudzu and celery, key components of Kudzu celery decoction (KCD), possess known anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Kudzu celery decoction (KCD) in a mouse model of sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI).
- To investigate the protective effects of KCD on cardiac function, myocardial damage, inflammation, and fibrosis in the context of sepsis.
Main Methods:
- A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was used to induce sepsis in BALB/c mice.
- Therapeutic effects of KCD were assessed using echocardiography, histological staining, and quantitative real-time PCR.
- Analysis included cardiac function, myocardial fibrosis, inflammation markers, and general physiological parameters.
Main Results:
- KCD treatment significantly improved survival indicators such as anal temperature, sepsis scores, and blood parameters in CLP-induced mice.
- Echocardiography and histological analyses revealed that KCD markedly alleviated cardiac dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
- KCD demonstrated a significant protective effect against sepsis-induced myocardial injury.
Conclusions:
- Kudzu celery decoction (KCD) exhibits significant cardioprotective effects against sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI).
- KCD demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent for mitigating SIMI.
- These findings support the further clinical application of TCM prescriptions like KCD for cardiovascular complications in sepsis.
Abstract:
Myocardial dysfunction is well-recognized manifestations of organ dysfunction in sepsis, which is the leading cause of death in critically ill patients. The underlying mechanisms associated with sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) include cardiac contractility, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Kudzu celery decoction (KCD) is composed of a variety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) such as kudzu and celery. The previous study found that the main ingredients in kudzu and celery have also been proved to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and other biological activities. In this study, the therapeutic effects of KCD were evaluated in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of BALB/c mice. The effects of KCD on cardiac function, myocardium damage, inflammation, and fibrosis in CLP-injured mice were analyzed with echocardiography, histological staining, and quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that KCD treatment improved the anal temperature, sepsis score, blood routine parameters, and blood biochemical parameters in CLP-injured mice. Then, we observed that KCD could remarkably alleviate cardiac dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in CLP-injured mice. In this study, we confirmed that KCD has a significant protective effect on SIMI, which may favor KCD a potential cardioprotective drug candidate to alleviate SIMI and further amplify the application of TCM prescription in clinic.
