crocin and Myocardial-Infarction

The present study aimed to analyze the effects of pinealectomy and crocin treatment in isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage. Seventy rats were divided into seven groups: control, sham control, pinealectomy (PNX), isoproterenol (ISO; 85 mg/kg on the 29th and 30th days of the experiment, subcutaneous injection), PNX + ISO, PNX + crocin (50 mg/kg/day for 30 days, intragastric administration), and PNX + ISO + crocin. PNX procedure was performed on the first day of the study. A significant increase was observed in serum cardiac damage markers (CK-MB, Troponin I) after ISO administration. ISO administration led to a significant increase in cardiac oxidative stress parameters, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS), while it led to a decrease in antioxidant defense system parameters, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant status (TAS) when compared to control groups. Elevated MDA and TOS levels were observed, while reduced SOD and CAT activities, and decreased GSH and TAS levels were observed in the group that underwent PNX and ISO administration when compared to the PNX group. Furthermore, in the PNX + ISO + Crocin group, SOD and CAT activities, and GSH and TAS levels ameliorated and MDA and TOS levels were reduced with the crocin treatment when compared to the PNX + ISO group. Also, marked increases were observed in serum cardiac markers, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings after the crocin treatment. All findings demonstrated that crocin could be employed as a cardioprotective agent due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Cardiotonic Agents; Carotenoids; Catalase; Glutathione; Isoproterenol; Malondialdehyde; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Oxidants; Oxidative Stress; Pinealectomy; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Superoxide Dismutase; Troponin I

Oxidative stress and excessive nitric oxide (NO) production play considerable roles in infarction-induced injury impairing cardiac functions. Crocin is the active constituent of Crocus sativus (saffron) with antioxidant properties and has protective effects against disturbances induced by ischemia in many organs. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of crocin on myocardial infarction (MI)-induced injury in rats in vivo. MI rats were intraperitoneally injected with crocin at different doses for seven successive days after coronary ligation. Infarct size, hemodynamic studies, and capillary density were evaluated. Levels of oxidative stress, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and their corresponding phosphorylation expressions were then measured. Crocin decreased infarct size, left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure, and LV minimum dP/dt while increased LV maximum dP/dt and percentage of LV fractional shortening dose dependently. Capillary density was markedly increased after crocin treatment. Crocin enhanced superoxide dismutase activity and reduced malondialdehyde levels as well as inhibited excessive production of NO through downregulating iNOS as well as upregulating eNOS during MI-induced injury. This study reveals that crocin improves MI-induced impairments in cardiac function, which is associated with its antioxidant properties.

Topics: Animals; Carotenoids; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Male; Myocardial Infarction; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Rats, Wistar

Although reperfusion is a useful method for the survival of ischemic heart, harmful effects have been observed. This study was carried out to investigate the preconditioning and cardioprotective potential effects of crocin and vitamin E on the hemodynamic and infarct size in the ischemia-reperfusion model of isolated rat hearts. Animals were divided into a control group, an ischemia-reperfusion control group and three treatment groups: crocin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg), vitamin E (100 mg/kg), and combination (crocin 40 mg/kg with vitamin E 100 mg/kg). The hearts were excised, quickly transferred to a Langendorff apparatus, and subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Left ventricular developed pressure, coronary perfusion pressure, left ventricular systolic pressure, myocardial contractility, rate pressure product, coronary flow, and infarct size were assessed. The successful induction of ischemia was determined by ST elevation on the electrocardiogram.The results showed that crocin significantly improved cardiac dysfunction and also reduced infarct size in the rat hearts. However, the combination of crocin 40 mg/kg and vitamin E 100 mg/kg had an even more significantly improved effect on the hemodynamic parameters and infarct size.Therefore, it can be suggested that the protective role of crocin may be due to the stability or reinforcement of antioxidant systems, and crocin could be useful for the treatment or prevention of cardiac dysfunction.

Topics: Animals; Carotenoids; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hemodynamics; In Vitro Techniques; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Rats; Vitamin E

We investigated the effects of crocin, a pharmacologically active constituent of Crocus sativus L., in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity with reference to hemodynamic, antioxidant, histopathological and ultrastructural parameters. Rats were administered crocin (5, 10 and 20mg/kg/day) or vehicle orally for 21 days along with ISO (85mg/kg, subcutaneously, at 24h interval) on 20th and 21st day. On 22nd day ISO-control rats showed cardiac dysfunction as indicated by lowering of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures. In addition, a significant decrease in maximum positive and negative rate of developed left ventricular pressure (+/-LVdp/dt(max)) and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were observed. Furthermore, a marked reduction in the activities of myocardial creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels along with an increase in content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed. Myocardial necrosis, edema and inflammation were evident from the light microscopic and ultrastructural changes. Crocin at the dose of 20mg/kg/day significantly modulated hemodynamic and antioxidant derangements. The preventive role of crocin on ISO-induced MI was reconfirmed by histopathological and ultrastructural examinations. The effect at the dose of 20mg/kg/day of crocin was more pronounced than that of other two doses (5 and 10mg/kg/day). The results suggest that crocin may have cardioprotective effect in ISO-induced cardiac toxicity through modulation of oxidative stress in such a way that maintains the redox status of the cell.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Carotenoids; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; Crocus; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzymes; Heart; Hemodynamics; Isoproterenol; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Myocardial Infarction; Myocardium; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar