A molecular mechanism on the antiapoptotic effects of zingerone in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats

Myocardial infarction continues to be a major public health problem, not only in western countries but also increasingly in developing countries and makes significant contribution to the mortality statistics. Reduction in mortality and prevention of myocardial infarction are of utmost importance. Recently, there has been an increased interest globally to identify natural compounds that are pharmacologically potent and have low or no adverse effects for use in preventive medicine. Oxidative stress and cardiomyocyte apoptosis play a significant role in the progression of myocardial infarction. The molecular mechanism on the antiapoptotic effects of zingerone in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats was evaluated. Rats were pretreated with zingerone (6 mg/kg body weight) daily for 14 days and were then induced myocardial infarction with isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight) on 15th and 16th day. Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats showed significantly (P < 0.05) increased heart oxidative stress markers and significantly (P < 0.05) decreased heart antioxidant systems. Reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction study revealed altered myocardial expressions of B-cell lymphoma gene-2, B-cell lymphoma - extra large, B-cell lymphoma-2 associated-x, Bcl - 2 associated death promoter, Fas-receptor and caspases-8,-9 and- 3 genes in myocardial infarcted rats. Zingerone pretreatment revealed significant (P<0.05) preventive effects on all the above mentioned biochemical and molecular parameters evaluated in myocardial infarcted rats. Thus, zingerone prevented cardiomyocyte apoptosis, by virtue of its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties.