Antiarrhythmic effect of flax lignan concentrate alone and concomitantly with omega 3 fatty acid mediated through inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in digoxin induced ventricular arrhythmia and lethality in rats

The objective of the present study was to investigate antiarrhythmic effect of flax lignan concentrate (FLC) and omega 3 fatty acid (omega) in digoxin induced ventricular arrhythmia and lethality in rats. Male wistar rats (250–300 g) were divided into four groups: control (received saline 1 mL/kg/day p.o. for 28 days); omega (received omega 1 mL/kg for 28 days); FLC (Animals received FLC 400 mg/kg/day p.o. for 28 days); FLC + omega (received concomitant treatment of FLC and omega for 28 days). On last day, digoxin was infused by jugular vein until the cardiac arrest. Concomitant treatment of FLC and omega significantly increased the concentration of digoxin required to produce ectopic beats (P < 0.05), ventricular fibrillation (P < 0.05) and cardiac arrest (P < 0.01), reduced the serum levels of CKMB (P < 0.05), LDH (P < 0.01) and restored the activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. FLC + Omega treatment showed antiapoptotic effect as evidenced by reduction in myocardial apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy and histology of heart confirmed cardioprotective effect of concomitant treatment. The mechanism of this protective effect appears to be mediated through conservation of endogenous myocardial antioxidant enzymes and inhibition of apoptotic death of myocardial cells.