Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular diseases in the world. Currently, the drugs used to treat HF in the clinic may cause serious side effects. Liguzinediol, 2, 5-dimethyl-3, 6-dimethylpyrazine, is a compound synthesized after the structural modification of ligustrazine (one active ingredient of Szechwan Lovage Rhizome). We aimed to observe the effects of liguzinediol on preventing HF and explore the related mechanisms. Methods: The ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery was operated to established the myocardial infarction (MI) model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Cardiac functions were recorded by echocardiography and hemodynamics. The changes in the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS), inflammation, and oxidative stress were detected by radioimmunoassay and Elisa kits. Western blot and real-time PCR were applied to determine the expressions of the TGF-β1/Smads pathway. Results: Firstly, liguzinediol enhanced the systolic and diastolic functions of the heart in MI rats. Liguzinediol improved ventricular remodeling by reducing myocardial cell necrosis, as well as reducing collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Then, liguzinediol suppressed the activation of RAAS, inhibited the synthesis of pro-inflammation factors, and reduced oxidative stress. In the end, liguzinediol also down-regulated the expressions of the TGF-β1/Smads pathway. Conclusions: Liguzinediol could alleviate HF caused by MI in rats, and the protective effect was associated with the regulation of the TGF-β1/Smads pathway.

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The global commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased the likelihood of feed‐derived transgenic DNA uptake and raised concerns regarding the fate of such DNA fragments in animals consuming a GM diet. The present study applied a novel droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method to quantitatively detect the concentrations of feed‐derived transgenic (Cry1Ie) and endogenous (rubisco) plant DNA in the livers, intestinal tracts and muscles of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fed GM maize for uantifying feed‐derived DNA in animal tissues as a more sensitive and reliable alternative to qPCR.