Ameliorative prospective of alpha-mangostin, a xanthone derivative from Garcinia mangostana against β-adrenergic cathecolamine-induced myocardial toxicity and anomalous cardiac TNF-α and COX-2 expressions in rats

Altered membrane integrity and inflammation play a key role in cardiovascular damage. We investigated the salubrious effect of exogenously administered alpha-mangostin against β-adrenergic cathecolamine-induced cardiovascular toxicity with special reference to membrane ATPases, lysosomal hydrolases and inflammatory mediators TNF-α and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in albino rats. Induction of rats with isoproterenol (150 mg/kg body wt, i.p.) for 2 days resulted in a significant increase in the activities of serum and cardiac lysosomal hydrolases (β-d-glucuronidase, β-d-galactosidase, β-d-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase and cathepsin-D). A significant increase in cardiac levels of sodium, calcium with a decrease in the level of potassium paralleled by abnormal activities of membrane-bound phosphatases (Na+–K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase and Mg2+ ATPase) were observed in the heart of ISO-administered rats. Cardiac TNF-α and COX-2 expressions were assessed by Western blotting. Cardiac TNF-α and COX-2 expressions were significantly elevated in ISO-intoxicated rats. Pre-co-treatment with alpha-mangostin (200 mg/kg body wt.) orally for 8 days significantly attenuated these abnormalities and restored the levels to near normalcy when compared to ISO intoxicated group of rats. In conclusion, alpha-mangostin preserves the myocardial membrane integrity and extenuates anomalous TNF-α and COX-2 expressions by mitigating ISO-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage effectively. Restoration of cellular normalcy accredits the cytoprotective role of alpha-mangostin.