Luteolin reduces cardiac damage caused by hyperlipidemia in Sprague-Dawley rats

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
• Cardiac damage resulting from hyperlipidemia poses a major health concern.
• Previous studies suggest luteolin possesses cardioprotective properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of luteolin against cardiac damage induced by hyperlipidemia.
• To evaluate luteolin's impact on cardiac function and cardiac fibrosis in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD with varying doses of luteolin (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks.
• Cardiac function was assessed by measuring left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening.
• Cardiac tissue analysis included evaluating metabolic parameters, collagen expression (Col I, Col III), TGF-β, profibrotic genes (MMP2, MMP9), and specific protein levels (CD36, LOX-1).

Main Results:

• Luteolin administration (100 mg/kg/day) improved cardiac function, indicated by increased ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared to the HFD group.
• Metabolic parameters were favorably altered in the HFD + luteolin group.
• Luteolin significantly reduced collagen I, collagen III, and TGF-β expression, suppressed profibrotic genes MMP2 and MMP9, and lowered CD36 and LOX-1 protein levels in cardiac tissues.

Conclusions:

• Luteolin demonstrates protective effects against hyperlipidemia-induced cardiac damage in rats.
• The findings highlight luteolin's potential therapeutic role in mitigating cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis associated with hyperlipidemia.
• This research provides a basis for developing luteolin-based interventions for cardiovascular disease progression.