Herba Cistanche extract enhances mitochondrial glutathione status and respiration in rat hearts, with possible induction of uncoupling proteins

Figures & data

Figure 1.  A methanol extract of Herba Cistanche affects mitochondrial reduced glutathione levels in rat hearts. Animals were orally treated with a methanol extract of Herba Cistanche at the indicated daily doses for 3 consecutive days. Mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured as described in “Materials and methods.” Each bar represents mean ± SEM, with five animals/group. *Significantly different from control group; ^asignificantly different from group pretreated with 0.5 g/kg extract.

Figure 2.  A methanol extract of Herba Cistanche affects mitochondrial oxidized glutathione levels in rat hearts. Animals were orally treated with a methanol extract of Herba Cistanche at the indicated daily doses for 3 consecutive days. Mitochondrial oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels were measured as described in “Materials and methods.” Each bar represents mean ± SEM, with five animals/group. *Significantly different from untreated control group.

Figure 3.  A methanol extract of Herba Cistanche affects mitochondrial Ca²⁺ content in rat hearts. Rats were fed a methanol extract of Herba Cistanche at 0.5 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg for 3 days. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ contents were measured as described in “Materials and methods.” Each bar represents mean ± SEM, with five animals/group. *Significantly different from untreated control group; ^asignificantly different from group pretreated with 0.5 g/kg extract.

Figure 4.  A methanol extract of Herba Cistanche affects mitochondrial membrane potential in rat hearts. Rats were fed a methanol extract of Herba Cistanche at 0.5 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg for 3 days. Mitochondrial ΔΨ_m values were measured as described in “Materials and methods.” Each bar represents mean ± SEM, with five animals/group. *Significantly different from untreated control group.

Table 1.  A methanol extract of Herba Cistanche affects mitochondrial respiration in rat hearts.

	Control	Herba Cistanche
Respiration rate (nmol O2/min/mg protein)
State 2	23 ± 0.8	34 ± 0.5*
State 3	45 ± 0.8	83 ± 1.5*
State 4	30 ± 2.2	54 ± 1.9*
State 4 /GDP	28 ± 2.2	30 ± 0.9
Respiratory control index
State 3/State 4	1.5 ± 0.1	1.5 ± 0.1

Note. Rats were fed a methanol extract of Herba Cistanche at 1.0 g/kg for 3 days. Mitochondrial respiration was measured as described in “Materials and methods.” Values are mean ± SEM, with five animals/group. *Significantly different from control group.