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Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of ginsenoside Rb3 on myocardial
injury and heart function impairment induced by isoproterenol in rats. To induce myocardial
ischemia, Sprague-Dawley rats were subcutaneously injected with isoproterenol (20mg/kg).
Cardiac marker enzymes and antioxidative parameters in left ventricles were measured.
Hemodynamic parameters were monitored and recorded as well. Histopathological examination
of left ventricles was performed. It was found that the levels of creatine kinase
and lactate dehydrogenase in isoproterenol-treated rats were significantly increased.
The rats administrated with isoproterenol showed the declines in left ventricular
systolic pressure, positive and negative maximal values of the first derivative of
left ventricular pressure, and an elevation of left ventricular end diastolic pressure.
Isoproterenol enhanced the content of malondialdehyde and decreased the activities
of superoxide dismutase, catalase in left ventricles. Administration of ginsenoside
Rb3 significantly ameliorated myocardial injury and heart function impairment induced
by isoproterenol. The cardioprotective effect of ginsenoside Rb3 was further confirmed
by histopathological examination. Ginsenoside Rb3 also alleviated the increase of
malondialdehyde content and decrease of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities
in left ventricles. The results indicated that ginsenoside Rb3 possesses the effect
against isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury and heart function impairment, and
that the mechanism of pharmacological action was related to the antioxidant activity
of ginsenoside Rb3 at least in part.
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