The fruits of Emblica officinalis (Amla) are widely used in the Indian System of Medicine and are believed to increase defense against disease. In the present study, the effects of chronic oral administration of fresh fruit homogenate of Amla on: (i). myocardial antioxidant system and (ii). oxidative stress induced by ischemic-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rat heart were investigated. Fresh amla fruit homogenate, in three different doses (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) and normal saline (C) were administered orally to Wistar albino rats (120-150 gms) of either sex daily for 30 days. There was reduction in basal myocardial lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level, and augmentation of myocardial endogenous antioxidants, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the treated rats. Hearts were also subjected to in vitro IRI (9 min of global ischemia, followed by 12 min of reperfusion, Langendorff's mode). Significant myocyte injury and rise in myocardial TBARS along with depletion of SOD, catalase, GSH (reduced glutathione) and GPx occurred in the control group. No significant increase in myocardial TBARS and depletion of antioxidant enzymes were observed in the treated groups. Myocyte injury was evident only in 250 mg/kg group. The results indicate that chronic Emblica officinalis administration causes myocardial adaptation by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protects rat hearts from oxidative stress associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury.
Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.