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Abstract
The root extract of Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) (HI) was studied for its cardioprotective effect in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. HI was perfused for 15 min at a concentration of 0.09 g/L prior to 30 min global ischemia/120 min reperfusion (I/R). Recovery of functional parameters, reperfusion arrhythmias, and infarct size (TTC staining) served as the end-points. After 15 min of perfusion with HI, the left ventricular developed pressure (LVdevP) and HR (heart rate) were not altered significantly (p > 0.05), as compared with the pre-drug values. During R, HI showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) recovery of LVdevP at nearly all time points. The recovery of maximal rate of pressure development (+dP/dtmax) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) at 40 min of R were significantly better than in non-treated controls. There was also a significant reduction in the total number of ventricular premature beats (VPB) and duration of ventricular tachycardia (VT). HI can protect ischemic myocardium against contractile dysfunction and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and reduce the extent of irreversible tissue damage following I/R in rat hearts.
Acknowledgements
We also acknowledge Rumi Herbals for providing the extract.
Declaration of interest
The study was supported by grant number VEGA SR 2/0173/08, and SAIA is thanked for providing a scholarship to one of the authors (V.K.M.K.).