Novel prevention insights into depletion of oxidative stress status through regular exercise and grape seed effective substance in heart ischemia rat model

CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF DICHLOROMETHANE VALERIAN (VALERIANA OFFICINALIS) EXTRACT ON ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION-INDUCED CARDIAC INJURIES IN RATS

Background

Valepotriate is an active ingredient of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) with strong antioxidant activity that is effective for numerous cardiovascular diseases.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an active ingredient of V. officinalis extract on ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac injuries in male rats.

Methods

Thirty-two male rats were subjected to ischemia for 40 minutes and reperfusion for five days. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 each; group 1 (control) was given normal saline, and groups 2-4 were gavaged with 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 mg/kg of valepotriate extract, respectively, and received extract (0.2 mg/kg ip) two weeks before ischemia induction.

Results

Dichloromethane V. officinalis (valepotriate) extract exerted a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced injuries. So that infarct size and number of ventricular arrhythmia and ventricular escape beats decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, ST segment amplitude, QTC interval, and heart rate decreased in the injured hearts and serum levels of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase increased. Biochemical markers malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase also decreased on day 5 after the onset of reperfusion.

Conclusion

V. officinalis extract may have a protective effect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion by producing antioxidant effects.

Applicable Forensic Biomarker for Drowning Diagnosis: Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 2 (ERK2)

Drowning is a common cause of accidental death worldwide, and it continues to be a serious public health problem. However, diagnosing drowning is a challenging task in forensic investigation because it is difficult to prove actual drowning and other submerged deaths with the autopsy techniques that are currently in use. Here, we show biomarkers that may be helpful for the diagnosis of drowning. We divided the experimental animals into four groups (drowning, postmortem submersion, hypoxia, and control) to evaluate the expression patterns of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). On gene expression analysis, only ERK2 was found to be significantly increased in the drowning groups compared to the other cases. In the immunoblot analysis, phosphorylated ERK2 (p-ERK2) was found to be upregulated in the drowning groups. Immunohistochemical staining also showed that p-ERK in alveolar cells revealed a granular pattern in the drowning groups. However, the expression pattern of ERK2 over time after drowning differed between the freshwater and seawater drowning groups. Taken together, these results indicate that ERK2 may be useful for distinguishing between drowning and postmortem submersion if the postmortem interval (PMI) of drowning is short. Conversely, if the PMI is long from the time that death occurs until the discovery of dead bodies, it is possibly more helpful for identifying between freshwater and seawater drowning.

Antioxidants Supplementation During Exercise: Friends or Enemies for Cardiovascular Homeostasis?

Exercise is a preferred strategy for improving cardiac function, especially for patients with cardiovascular diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that oxidative stress is involved in exercise-induced cardioprotection, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidant supplementation during or post-exercise still exists despite divergences. To explore the effect of oxidative stress and antioxidant supplementation on cardiovascular homeostasis during or post-exercise, we take insights into the progress of exercise-induced oxidative stress, antioxidant supplementation, and cardiovascular homeostasis. In particular, antioxidants such as vitamin C or E, gamma-oryzanol, and other natural antioxidants are discussed concerning regulating exercise-associated oxidative stress. Additionally, our present study reviewed and discussed a meta-analysis of antioxidant supplementation during exercise. Overall, we take an insight into the essential biological adaptations in response to exercise and the effects of antioxidant supplementation on cardiac function, which aid us in giving recommendations on antioxidant supplementation for exercisers and exercised people. A better understanding of these issues will broaden our knowledge of exercise physiology.