Investigation of the cardioprotective effects of Momordica charantia in the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction model in rats
Burcin Karadeniz, Özge Beyazçiçek
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent and primary cause of death globally, and the most deadly and dangerous of these diseases is myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as heart attack, which develops due to insufficient coronary artery flow and causes irreversible myocardial cell damage. This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of Momordica charantia ( MC ), known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in an experimental acute MI model induced by isoprenaline (ISO) in rats. In the study, forty-nine male Wistar rats were split up into 7 groups as control (CONT), Glycerin (GLCN), isoprenaline (ISO), 500 mg/kg MC (MC500), isoprenaline+100 mg/kg MC (ISO+MC100), isoprenaline+250 mg/kg MC (ISO+MC250), isoprenaline+500 mg/kg MC (ISO+MC500). Substances were administered to the groups for 30 days. Isoprenaline (85 mg/kg) was administered by subcutaneous injection on the last two days of the study (days of the 29 and 30). Electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and collecting blood samples of the animals were performed 24 hours after the last administration of the substances under the anesthesia. Serum IL-6, Nrf2, IL-10, HO-1, TNF-α, CK-MB, cTn-I and CRP levels were determined by the ELISA method. Compared to the ISO group, levels of CK-MB, HO-1, TNF-α, CRP, IL-6 and cTn-I were found statistically lower in MC -administered groups (p<0.05). In addition, MC restored ISO-induced abnormal ECG changes to normal levels. In conclusion, ECG findings, proinflammatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and cardiac biomarkers suggest that MC may have cardioprotective properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of Momordica charantia (MC), known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, in an experimental acute MI model induced by isoprenaline (ISO) in rats. MC is known to have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-ulcer, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. ISO, a β-adrenergic receptor agonist, was used to construct an experimental MI model. Chosen parameters were analyzed to evaluate serum samples' myocardial damage and protective effects. ECG monitoring of the heart was done. • MC increased antioxidant enzymes and decreased biomarker of oxidative stress. • MC reduced levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP. • MC decreased the serum levels of cardiac biomarkers such as CK-MB and cTn-I. • MC corrects heart rate, T-wave, ST-segment and R-wave abnormalities caused by ISO.