Vitexin protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts by attenuating inflammatory response and apoptosis

► Vitexin, a flavone glycoside isolated from the leaf of Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge, protects against myocardial I/R injury. ► Vitexin inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and IL-1β. ► Vitexin decreases the apoptosis of cardiac muscle cell via up-regulating Bcl-2 as well as down-regulating Bax and NF-κBp65.