Cardioprotective effect of embelin on isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats: Possible involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis

AimsPreventive and/or therapeutic interventions using natural products for ischemic heart disease have gained considerable attention worldwide. This study investigated the cardioprotective effect and possible mechanism of embelin, a major constituent of Embelia ribes Burm, using isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction model in rats.Materials and methodsRats were pretreated for three days with embelin (50 mg/kg, p.o) before inducing myocardial injury by administration of ISO (85 mg/kg) subcutaneously at an interval of 24 h for 2 consecutive days. Serum was analyzed for cardiac specific injury biomarkers, lipids and lipoprotein content. Heart tissues were isolated and were used for histopathology, antioxidant and mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity assays and western blot analysis.Key findingsResults showed that pretreatment with embelin significantly decreased the elevated levels of serum specific cardiac injury biomarkers (CK-MB, LDH and AST), serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins and histopathological changes when compared to ISO-induced controls. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms of embelin action revealed that embelin pretreatment restored the myocardial mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activities (NADH dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c oxidase and mitochondrial redox activity), strengthened antioxidant status and attenuated ISO-induced myocardial lipid peroxidation. Immunoblot analysis revealed that embelin interrupted mitochondria dependent apoptotic damage by increasing the myocardial expression of Bcl-2 and downregulating the expression of Bax, cytochrome c, cleaved-caspase-3 & 9 and PARP. Histopathology findings further strengthened the cardioprotective findings of embelin.SignificanceResult suggested that embelin may have a potential benefit in preventing ischemic heart disease like myocardial infarction.