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Protective Effect of Neferine Against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Toxicity

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Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of neferine against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Neferine was given orally for 30 days, and isoproterenol was injected subcutaneously for 2 days. Histopathological examination of heart tissue of isoproterenol-treated rats showed myocardial necrosis. Biochemical analysis of isoproterenol-treated rats showed significant increase in the serum marker enzymes—creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate transaminase and increased serum glycoprotein components with a concomitant decrease in the heart tissue homogenate when compared to control. Increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidants reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and altered lipid profile in serum and tissue was also recorded in the isoproterenol-treated rats, whereas the rats which received neferine pre-treatment followed by isoproterenol injection showed minimal histological changes, absence of inflammation, and a significant decrease in the serum marker enzymes and serum glycoprotein components with a concomitant increase in the heart tissue homogenate when compared to isoproterenol group. Neferine pre-treatment restored the altered biochemical parameters and lipid profile to near normal. The results of the present study showed that neferine exerts strong antioxidant property against isoproterenol-induced oxidative stress and can be used as a potent cardioprotective agent against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

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Abbreviations

CVD:

Cardiovascular diseases

MI:

Myocardial infarction

MN:

Myocardial necrosis

CK:

Creatine kinase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

HDL:

High-density lipoprotein

LDL:

Low-density lipoprotein

VLDL:

Very low-density lipoprotein

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GST:

Glutathione-S-transferase

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Kumaresh, Sanjeevini Herbals, Salem, India, for providing lotus seeds for the isolation of neferine.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Lalitha, G., Poornima, P., Archanah, A. et al. Protective Effect of Neferine Against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Toxicity. Cardiovasc Toxicol 13, 168–179 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-012-9196-5

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