Lavandula Reduces Heart Injury via Attenuating Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Oxidative Stress in A Rat Model of Infarct-Like Myocardial Injury

Protective effects of lavender oil on sepsis-induced acute lung injury via regulation of the NF-κB pathway

CONTEXT

Lavender oil (Lav) from Lavandula angustifolia L. (Lamiacease) exhibits antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties against various diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The study explores the effect of Lav pre-treatment on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into Sham, caecal ligation and puncture (CLP), CLP + Lav (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) groups. Lav was administered by gavage, once a day, for 7 days. Histological analysis was performed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Cytokine and nitrite levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and Griess reagent. Gene and protein expression were tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot.

RESULTS

The levels of tumour necrosis factor-α (BALF: 64%, serum: 59%), interleukin (IL)-1β (BALF: 63%, serum: 66%) and IL-6 (BALF: 54%, serum: 59%), and nitrite (40%) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (51%), and the level of myeloperoxidase (66%) and malondialdehyde (59%), and cleaved-caspase 3 (84%) and Bax expression (74%) induced by CLP were decreased when given Lav. Additionally, the level of superoxide dismutase (211%) and glutathione (139%), and the expression of Bcl-2 (980%) induced by CLP were increased when given Lav. The increased p-nuclear factor (NF)-κB/NF-κB (72%) and p-inhibitor of κBα (IκBα)/IκBα (77%) induced by CLP could be reversed by Lav.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Lav pre-treatment might protect rats from sepsis-induced ALI via deactivation of the NF-κB pathway. Our research demonstrated the regulatory mechanisms of Lav in sepsis-induced ALI and can provide a theoretical basis for the use of Lav in the treatment of sepsis-induced ALI.

(E)-N'-(1-(7-Hydroxy-2-Oxo-2H-Chromen-3-Yl) Ethylidene) Benzohydrazide, a Novel Synthesized Coumarin, Ameliorates Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats through Attenuating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis

The present study was directed to investigate the effect of precotreatment with (E)-N'-(1-(7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-yl) ethylidene) benzohydrazide (7-hyd.HC), a novel potent synthesized coumarin, on isoproterenol- (ISO-) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. The hydrazone compound was characterized by IR, 1D, and 2D NMR analyses. Experimental induction of MI in rats was established by ISO (85 mg/kg/day, s.c) for two consecutive days (6th and 7th days). 7-hyd.HC or sintrom was given for 7 days prior and simultaneous to ISO injection. 7-hyd.HC offered a cardiopreventive effect by preventing heart injury marker leakage (LDH, ALT, AST, CK-MB, and cTn-I) from cardiomyocytes and normalizing cardiac function and ECG pattern, as well as improving lipid profile (TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C), which were altered by ISO administration. Moreover, 7-hyd.HC precotreatment significantly mitigated the oxidative stress biomarkers, as evidenced by the decrease of lipid peroxidation and the increased level of the myocardial GSH level together with the SOD, GSH-Px, and catalase activities. 7-hyd.HC inhibited the cardiac apoptosis by upregulating the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulating the expression of Bax and caspase-3 genes. In addition, 7-hyd.HC reduced the elevated fibrinogen rate and better prevented the myocardial necrosis and improved the interstitial edema and neutrophil infiltration than sintrom. Overall, 7-hyd.HC ameliorated the severity of ISO-induced myocardial infarction through improving the oxidative status, attenuating apoptosis, and reducing fibrinogen production. The 7-hyd.HC actions could be mediated by its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory capacities.

Hydrogen‑rich solution against myocardial injury and aquaporin expression via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway during cardiopulmonary bypass in rats

Myocardial ischemia, hypoxia and reperfusion injury are induced by aortic occlusion, cardiac arrest and resuscitation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which can severely affect cardiac function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich solution (HRS) and aquaporin (AQP) on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced myocardial injury, and determine the mechanism of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a sham operation group, a CPB surgery group and a HRS group. A CPB model was established, and the hemodynamic parameters were determined at the termination of CPB. The myocardial tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson staining. The levels of myocardial injury markers [adult cardiac troponin I (cTnI), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)], inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO)] were determined by ELISA. Furthermore, H9C2 cells were treated with HRS following hypoxia/reoxygenation. Cell viability and cell apoptosis were investigated. The expression of apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 (Bcl-2), apoptosis regulator Bax (Bax), caspase 3, AQP-1, AQP-4, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were investigated using western blotting and quantitative-polymerase chain reaction of tissues and cells. Following CPB, myocardial cell arrangement was disordered, myocardial injury markers (cTnI, LDH, CK-MB and BNP), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and MDA levels were significantly increased compared with the sham group; whereas the SOD levels were significantly downregulated following CPB compared with the sham group. HRS attenuated myocardial injury, reduced the expression levels of cTnI, LDH, CK-MB, BNP, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA and MPO, and increased SOD release. Levels of Bcl-2, AQP-1, AQP-4, p-Akt, HO-1 and Nrf2 were significantly increased following HRS; whereas Bax and caspase-3 expression levels were significantly reduced following CPB. HRS treatment significantly increased the viability of myocardial cells, reduced the rate of myocardial cell apoptosis and the release of MDA and LDH compared with the CPB group. A PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) was revealed to reverse the protective effect of HRS treatment. HRS was demonstrated to attenuate CPB-induced myocardial injury, suppress AQP-1 and AQP-4 expression following CPB treatment and protect myocardial cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.