Abstract

CARDIOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS OF SEEDS OF SPERMACOCE HISPIDA LINN., ON ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

*R.Dhevi, V.Elango and K.Gayathri

ABSTRACT

Myocardial infarction (MI) continues to be a major public health problem in the world. Spermacoce hispida exhibit cardio-protective effects by several mechanisms. Spermacoce hispida possesses significant anti-oxidant and cardioprotective activities. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of pretreatment with spermacoce hispida seed extract on isoprenaline-induced MI in rats. Two different doses of the plant extract such as 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight was used to prove the cardioprotective effect against 100mg/kg body weight of isoproterenol (ISO). Markers chosen to assess cardiac damage included the activity of creatine phospho kinase, LDH, Aspartate Transaminase(AST) and Alanine Transaminase (ALT). Oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxides and hydroperoxides were assessed. Pre-treatment of ISO administered animals with 200 mg/kg b.wt, of spermacoce hispida was found to exhibit a better cardioprotective and antioxidant effect.

Keywords: Myocardial infarction, isoproterenol, oxidative stress and antioxidant.