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Combined Effects of Quercetin and Atenolol in Reducing Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats: Possible Mediation Through Scavenging Free Radicals

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Abstract

In this investigation, combined effects of quercetin and atenolol in the regulation of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity have been evaluated in rats. While ISO administration increased the levels of serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) as well as cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA); it reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and the level of reduced glutathione. ISO-induced rats also exhibited ST-segment elevation and tachycardia. Oral administration of atenolol (6 mg/kg) and quercetin (5 mg/kg), along with ISO (5 mg/kg, subcutaneously) every day for 10 days markedly reduced the serum CK-MB, LDH and SGPT levels. Concomitantly the test drugs improved the status of antioxidative enzymes, decreased the cardiac MDA and nearly normalized the electrocardiogram. Electron paramagnetic resonance study also revealed a decrease in 5,5′-dimethyl-1-pyroline-N-oxide-hydroxyl radicals signal intensity when atenolol and quercetin were administered together to ISO-treated rats. In conclusion, the combined treatment of atenolol and quercetin appears to produce a better cardioprotective effect in ISO-induced animals as compared to their individual treatments, and possibly the beneficial actions are associated with the free radical scavenging action of quercetin.

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Abbreviations

CK-MB:

Creatine kinase-MB

SGPT:

Glutamate pyruvate transaminase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

LPO:

Lipidperoxidation

SOD:

Superoxidedismutase

CAT:

Catalase

GSH:

Glutathione

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

CONT:

Control

QR:

Quercetin

Atn:

Atenolol

ISO:

Isoproterenol

EPR:

Electro paramagnetic resonance

OH·:

Hydroxyl radicals

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the grant received from Department of Science and Technology (DST), under Women Scientist scheme to Dr. S. Panda [REF: SR/WOS-A/LS-259], New Delhi, India, and by the UGC fellowship to Ms. N. Sharma.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to Sunanda Panda.

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Panda, S., Kar, A., Banerjee, T. et al. Combined Effects of Quercetin and Atenolol in Reducing Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats: Possible Mediation Through Scavenging Free Radicals. Cardiovasc Toxicol 12, 235–242 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-012-9161-3

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