The alkaloid matrine of the root of Sophora flavescens prevents arrhythmogenic effect of ouabain

Matrine, a alkaloid of the root of Sophora flavescens, has multiple protective effects on the cardiovascular system including cardiac arrhythmias. However, the molecular and ionic mechanisms of matrine have not been well investigated. Our study aimed at to shed a light on the issue to investigate the antiarrhythmic effects of matrine by using ouabain to construct an arrhythmic model of cardiomyocytes. In this experiment, matrine significantly and dose-dependently increased the doses of ouabain required to induce cardiac arrhythmias and decreased the duration of arrhythmias in guinea pigs. In cardiomyocytes of guinea pigs, ouabain 10 μM prolonged action potential duration by 80% (p < 0.05) and increased L-type Ca2+ currents and Ca2+ transients induced by KCl (p < 0.05). Matrine 100 μM shortened the prolongation of APD and prevented the increase of L-type Ca2+ currents and Ca2+ transients induced by ouabain. Taken together, these findings provide the first evidence that matrine possessed arrhythmogenic effect of ouabain by inhibiting of L-type Ca2+ currents and Ca2+ overload in guinea pigs.