Achyranthes bidentata polypeptides reduces oxidative stress and exerts protective effects against myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury in rats

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Sep 30;14(10):19792-804. doi: 10.3390/ijms141019792.

Abstract

Achyranthes bidentata, a Chinese medicinal herb, is reported to be neuroprotective. However, its role in cardioprotection remains largely unknown. Our present study aimed to investigate the effects of Achyranthes bidentata polypeptides (ABPP) preconditioning on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and to test the possible mechanisms. Rats were treated with ABPP (10 mg/kg/d, i.p.) or saline once daily for one week. Afterward, all the animals were subjected to 30 min of myocardial ischemia followed by 4 h of reperfusion. ABPP preconditioning for one week significantly improved cardiac function following MI/R. Meanwhile, ABPP reduced infarct size, plasma creatine kinase (CK)/lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and myocardial apoptosis at the end of reperfusion in rat hearts. Moreover, ABPP preconditioning significantly inhibited superoxide generation, gp91phox expression, malonaldialdehyde formation and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity in I/R hearts. Furthermore, ABPP treatment inhibited PTEN expression and increased Akt phosphorylation in I/R rat heart. PI3K inhibitor wortmannin blocked Akt activation, and abolished ABPP-stimulated anti-oxidant effect and cardioprotection. Our study demonstrated for the first time that ABPP reduces oxidative stress and exerts cardioprotection against MI/R injury in rats. Inhibition of PTEN and activation of Akt may contribute to the anti-oxidant capacity and cardioprotection of ABPP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achyranthes / metabolism*
  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cardiotonic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / metabolism
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Antioxidants
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Peptides
  • Superoxides
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Cybb protein, rat
  • NADPH Oxidase 2
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Creatine Kinase
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, rat
  • Wortmannin