Pitavastatin ameliorates myocardial damage by preventing inflammation and collagen deposition via reduced free radical generation in isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy

Effects of limonin treatment on the survival of random skin flaps in mice

Random skin flap is commonly used in plastic and reconstructive surgery, however, distal part of skin flap often occurs ischemia and necrosis. Limonin, with bioactivities of anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative stress, may be effective for skin flap survival. In our study, random flap model was performed in mice to explore the role of limonin in the survival of skin flap. On postoperative day 7, the necrosis of skin flaps was observed, while visualization of blood flow below the tissue surface was detected through Laser Doppler blood flow imaging (LDBFI). Then flap tissues were acquired to assess and levels of angiogenesis, apoptosis and oxidative stress. The results showed that limonin decreased necrosis and edema of skin flaps compared with the control group, with more blood flow in the flap under LDBFI detection. Limonin treatment also increased the mean vessels density, elevated the expression levels of angiogenic proteins (matrix metallopeptidase 9, vascular endothelial growth factor, Cadherin5) and antioxidant proteins [superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase, heme oxygenase], and reduced the expression of apoptotic factors (BAX, CYC, Caspase3). In summary, limonin could effectively enhance the survival of random skin flap, the potential mechanism may attribute to the induction of angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Cardioprotective properties of Artemisia herba alba nanoparticles against heart attack in rats: A study of the antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities

Recently, pharmaceutical scientists' interest has increased to find novel pharmaceutical natural substances with potent antioxidant capacity and very low side effects to be used safely in preventive medicine. One of the most common types of diseases with a large spread globally is cardiovascular diseases, which cause a high rate of deaths annually. The present study evaluated the use of Artemisia herba alba leaves' extract (AHALE) and AHALE zinc oxide nanoparticles (AHALE-ZnONPs) against isoproterenol (ISO) inducing myocardial infarction (MI) in male rats. Several groups of Wistar male rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were pretreated with several doses of AHALE or AHALE-ZnONPs for one month followed by exposure to ISO for two days. After treatment, samples of the rats' heart tissues and blood were collected for several molecular biological and biochemical analyses. Heart enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation compounds, lipid markers, activities, ROS generation, apoptosis, DNA damage and expression of lipid metabolism genes were analyzed in rats pretreated with AHALE or AHALE-ZnONPs followed by exposure to ISO. The results showed an increase in the levels of AST, ALT, LDH, CK, CK-MB, and cTnT (heart markers), elevation in TG, TC, and LDL levels (lipid profile markers), levels of TBARS and LOOH (lipid peroxidation products), ROS generation, DNA damage, apoptosis, and upregulation of PPAR-α, ADD1, FASN, and ACC genes in animals exposed to ISO in comparison with the control animals. Moreover, a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities, including GPx, GRx, and GST, was observed in animals exposed to ISO in comparison with control rats. In male rats pretreated with AHALE or AHALE-ZnONPs followed by exposure to ISO, the oxidative stress induced by ISO was prevented. The results suggest that Artemisia extract could be considered for use as one of the natural compounds for prevention of atherosclerosis and heart diseases due to its high antioxidant and hypolipidemic activities. The reduced oxidative stress of Artemisia extract may be a result of the existence of flavonoids and phenolic substances.

Effects of pinealectomy and crocin treatment on rats with isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction

The present study aimed to analyze the effects of pinealectomy and crocin treatment in isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage. Seventy rats were divided into seven groups: control, sham control, pinealectomy (PNX), isoproterenol (ISO; 85 mg/kg on the 29th and 30th days of the experiment, subcutaneous injection), PNX + ISO, PNX + crocin (50 mg/kg/day for 30 days, intragastric administration), and PNX + ISO + crocin. PNX procedure was performed on the first day of the study. A significant increase was observed in serum cardiac damage markers (CK-MB, Troponin I) after ISO administration. ISO administration led to a significant increase in cardiac oxidative stress parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), while it led to a decrease in antioxidant defense system parameters, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) when compared to control groups. Elevated MDA and TOS levels were observed, while reduced SOD and CAT activities, and decreased GSH and TAS levels were observed in the group that underwent PNX and ISO administration when compared to the PNX group. Furthermore, in the PNX + ISO + Crocin group, SOD and CAT activities, and GSH and TAS levels ameliorated and MDA and TOS levels were reduced with the crocin treatment when compared to the PNX + ISO group. Also, marked increases were observed in serum cardiac markers, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings after the crocin treatment. All findings demonstrated that crocin could be employed as a cardioprotective agent due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Ramipril Increases Adma Concentration in Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats Induced by Isoproterenol

In experimental animals, the induction of isoproterenol which is a synthetic of catecholamine, can cause acute myocardial infarction where the pathophysiology and morphology are the same as myocardial infarction in humans. Isoproterenol induction will increase oxidative stress, which will damage the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH), thus causing asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels to increase in circulation. Increased levels of ADMA will inhibit the activity of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase, which results in decreased nitric oxide resulting in endothelial damage. This study aims to determine the effect of Ramipril on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in rats (Rattus norvegicus) Wistar strain with acute myocardial infarction. Eighteen male Wistar rats (150-250 g) were randomly allocated into three groups: negative control group, positive control, and treatment group. The treatment group was pretreated with Ramipril at dose 3 mg/kg BW orally for seven days. Acute myocardial infarction was induced in positive control groups and treatment groups by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg BW) for two consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, rats from all groups were anesthetized and sacrificed for blood sample collection to evaluate the level of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine with Enzym-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The result showed that ADMA levels were increased in the treatment group after pretreated with Ramipril. This study concluded that pretreatment with Ramipril increased ADMA concentration in acute myocardial infarction rats induced by isoproterenol.

Experimental Study on the Effect of Aconite and Angelica sinensis on Myocardial Ischemia Rats with Yang Deficiency and Blood Stasis

Objective

To investigate the intervention effect and mechanism of Aconite and Angelica sinensis on myocardial ischemia rats with Yang deficiency and blood stasis.

Methods

SPF-class SD rats were randomly divided into low-dose and high-dose groups. Each group was divided into control group, model group, and drug-administered group (FZ, DG, FG; 1 : 0.5, 1 : 1, 1 : 2). A rat model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of hydrocortisone and isoproterenol plus cold stimulation. Each group was given corresponding decoction or distilled water for 14 days. The behavioral changes of rats in each group were observed. The morphological changes of rats cardiomyocytes were observed by HE staining. The average optical density (MOD value) and percentage of positive cells of Bcl-2, Bax, and Akt were determined by immunohistochemical staining method, and PEIs were calculated. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to determine the expression of PI3K, Caspase-3, Akt protein, and gene expression.

Results

The compatibility of Aconite and Angelica sinensis improved the morphology of rat cardiomyocytes, increased the PEI values of Akt and Bcl-2 protein, and decreased the PEI values of Bax protein (P < 0.01). The compatibility reduced the expression of Caspase-3 protein of rat myocardium and increased the protein expression of p-Akt, PI3K, and p-PI3K (P < 0.01). The compatibility also significantly reduced the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA and increased the expression of PI3K mRNA and Akt mRNA (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the effect of high-dose FG (1 : 2) group is the best.

Conclusions

The method of preparing a rat model of myocardial ischemia with Yang deficiency and blood stasis was feasible. The compatibility of Aconite and Angelica sinensis reduced myocardial fibrosis and inflammatory reaction, protected ischemic cardiomyocytes, and reduced myocardial injury, whose mechanism may be related to the regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway. The compatible group had better intervention effects than Aconite or Angelica sinensis alone. The best one was high-dose FG (1 : 2).

Therapeutic potential of pravastatin for random skin flaps necrosis: involvement of promoting angiogenesis and inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress

Background: Random skin flap is frequently used in plastic and reconstructive surgery, but its distal part often occurs ischemia and necrosis. Pravastatin (Prava) with bioactivities of pro-angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative stress, may be beneficial for flap survival. Materials and methods: A modified McFarlane flap model was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals were divided into the Control and Prava groups and treated as follows: the Prava group was injected intraperitoneally with 2 mg/kg Prava for consecutive 7 days, and the Control group received an equal volume of vehicle daily. On day 7, the necrosis skin flaps were observed, while visualization of blood flow below the tissue surface was performed by Laser Doppler blood flow imaging (LDBFI). Then animals were euthanized, and levels of angiogenesis, apoptosis and oxidative stress were analyzed. Results: Prava decreased necrosis and edema of skin flaps compared with the Control group, with more blood flow in the flap under LDBFI. Prava treatment increased the mean vessels density, elevated the expression levels of angiogenic proteins (matrix metallopeptidase 9, vascular endothelial growth factor, Cadherin5) and antioxidant proteins (superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase, heme oxygenase), and decreased the expression of apoptotic factors (BAX, CYC, Caspase3). In addition, malondialdehyde content was reduced, and glutathione level and SOD activity were increased in the skin flaps after treatment with Prava. Conclusion: Prava promotes survival of random skin flap through induction of angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress.