CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS TO CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF ROSA DAMASCENA PETALS IN ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: BIOCHEMICAL, HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDIES

Abstract

The present study is designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Rosa damascena petals called rose on isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in experimental rats. The experimental rats were divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 6 animals. Group 1 rats received standard diet and drinking water ad libitum for 45 days and will serve as a control group. Group 2 received a standard diet and drinking water ad libitum for 45 days. Group 3 Rats received metoprolol succinate via oral route at a daily dosage of 2.5 mg/Kg body weight for a period of 45 days. Group 4 Rats received Rosa damascena extract via oral route at a daily dosage of 500 mg/Kg body weight for a period of 45 days. All the groups except group 1 were then treated with isoproterenol in two doses (85 mg/kg body weight) by subcutaneous injection on 44 and 45th day at an inter­val of 24 hrs. At the end of the treatment, blood was collected from all the groups by puncturing the retro-orbital plexus for the estimation of biochemical parameters and the animals were sacrificed to remove the heart for histopathological studies. Serum cardiac marker enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase muscle-brain (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total protein were estimated. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels were also measured Antioxidant parameters like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated in heart tissue homogenate. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies were then carried out. The results of the present study indicated that ethanolic extract of Rosa damascena showed myocardial retrieval by restoring the cardiac marker enzymes and decreasing the level of plasma lipid profiles along with an increase in HDL. Additionally, level of myocardial antioxidants increased along with a lessening in the content of malondialdehyde. The cardioprotective effect was compared with Metoprolol which was used as the standard. Histopathological findings revealed a decrease in the degree of necrosis and inflammation following pretreatment with Rosa damascena. The present investigation indicates that Rosa damascena exerts cardioprotective activity against isoproterenol-induced cardiac damage in rats.