Myocardial infarction continues to be a major public health problem, not only in western countries but also increasingly in developing countries and makes significant contribution to the mortality statistics. Reduction in mortality rate and prevention of myocardial infarction are of utmost importance. Tachycardia, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), altered adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases), and shifts in electrolyte balance play a vital role in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. This study was designed to evaluate the preventive effects of zingerone (vanillyl acetone) on tachycardia, LVH, altered electrocardiogram (ECG), altered activities of membrane bound ATPases, electrolyte imbalance and myocardial infarct size in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats. Rats were pretreated with zingerone (vanillyl acetone) 6 mg/kg body weight daily for a period of 14 days and were then induced myocardial infarction with isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight) on 15th and 16th day. Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats showed tachycardia, LVH, altered ECG, serum cardiac troponin-T, plasma myoglobin, heart ATPases, heart sodium ion, calcium ion, potassium ion, and increased myocardial infarct size. Pretreatment with zingerone (vanillyl acetone) revealed preventive effects on tachycardia, LVH, ECG, and all the above mentioned biochemical parameters evaluated in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats. The 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining on myocardial infarct size confirmed the prevention of myocardial infarction. Further, the in vitro study revealed a very convincing free radical scavenging of zingerone (vanillyl acetone). Thus, the observed effects of zingerone (vanillyl acetone) are due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats.
Keywords: Cardiac markers; Electrolytes; Isoproterenol; Myocardial infarction; Zingerone.
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