Beneficial effect of medicinal plants on the contractility of post-hypoxic isolated guinea pig atria – Potential implications for the treatment of ischemic–reperfusion injury

Abstract

Context Ischemic-reperfusion injury is accompanied by a decreased contractility of the myocardium. Positive-inotropic agents have proven useful for treating this condition but may exert serious side-effects. Objective In this study, aqueous preparations from Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (Malvaceae), Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), Bixa orellana L. (Bixaceae), Cecropia peltata L. (Moraceae), Erythrina fusca Lour. (Fabaceae), Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) and Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae) were evaluated for their ability to improve the decreased contractility of isolated guinea pig atria after hypoxic stress. Materials and methods Guinea pig atria isolated in Ringer-Locke buffer gassed with 100% O2 at 30 °C were exposed for 5 min to hypoxia, then allowed to recover in oxygenated buffer alone or containing a single plant extract (0.001-1 mg/mL). The contractility (g/s) and beating frequency (beats/min), as well as troponin C contents of the bathing solution (ng/mL), were determined and expressed as means ± SDs. Results The extracts of A. muricata, B. orellana, C. peltata and T. catappa caused an increase in the contractility compared to untreated atria of 340 ± 102%, 151 ± 13%, 141 ± 14% and 238 ± 44%, respectively. However, the latter two preparations increased the troponin C contents of the bathing solution to 36 ± 11 and 69 ± 33, compared to the value of 11 ± 3 ng/mL found with untreated atria. Conclusions Preparations from A. muricata and B. orellana may possess positive-inotropic properties which may improve the contractility of the post-hypoxic myocardium. Studies to assess their usefulness in ischemic-reperfusion injury are warranted.

The safety and tolerability of Annona muricata leaf extract: a systematic review

“…Of the three studies which investigated A. muricata leaf extract in renal effect, [18,25,29] two studies demonstrated a nephroprotective effect, [18,25] while one demonstrated a nephrotoxic effect [29] with no substantial differences in the dose, formulation or route of administration. There were limited data reported on the cardiac (n = 1), [38] haematological (n = 2) [30,39] and reproductive (n = 1) [26] effect of A. muricata leaf extract.…”

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Ten Species of Medicinal Importance of Cecropia: Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Perspectives

“…In addition, C. pachystachya also reduced inflammation and renal lesions associated with ACEinhibition, reduction of macrophage infiltration, angiotensin II and c-Jun N-terminal kinase expression, and arginase activity in the renal cortex of rats (Table 5S, Supporting Information) [93,94]. Also, the aqueous extract of the leaves of C. peltata showed a positive inotropic effect on isolated guinea pig atria and caused injury to cardiomyocytes [95].…”

Review on phytochemical composition and pharmacological activities of Bixa orellana

“…Through scrutiny of its ethnomedical uses, a wide range of biological activities, including 'antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, enhanced gastrointestinal motility, neuropharmacological, anticonvulsant and antihypercholesterolemic activities have been described in the literature. 19…”