Preventive effect of ethanolic extract of Inula racemosa on electrocardiographic, biochemical and histopathological alterations in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate whether treatment with ethanolic extract of root powder of Inula racemosa (EIR) attenuates the development of acute myocardial infarction in isoproterenol (ISP)-treated male wistar rats by restoring electrocardiographic (ECG), histopathological and biochemical changes. ISP administration (200mg/kg) at an interval of 24hrs for two consecutive days (9^th & 10^th days) exhibited marked electrocardiograph- ic (ECG) changes (increased ST elevation, increased heart rate & decreased RR interval) in animals. It also caused significant increase in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CKP), creatine kinase-MB(CK- MB) and total iron with subsequent decrease in the levels of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) in serum. There was also significant increase in malondialdehyde and glycoproteins with subsequent decrease in activities of superox- ide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and reduced glutathione (GSH) in heart tissue. Oral treatment with EIR (400,600 and 800mg/kg) daily for a period of 10 days favorably modulated studied parameters in ISP-induced myocardial injury in a dose dependent manner. The protective role of EIR was further confirmed by histopathological exami- nation. However treatment with only EIR in normal rats did not change levels of the studied parameters. Present study thus provides the evidence for cardioprotective effect of EIR in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction.