Electrophysiological mechanisms of sophocarpine as a potential antiarrhythmic agent

Abstract

Aim: To examine the electrophysiological effects of sophocarpine on action potentials (AP) and ionic currents of cardiac myocytes and to compare some of these effects with those of amiodarone. Methods: Langendorff perfusion set-up was used in isolated guinea pig heart, and responses to sophocarpine were monitored using electrocardiograph. Conventional microelectrode, voltage clamp technique and perforated patch were employed to record fast response AP (fAP), slow response AP (sAP) and ionic currents in guinea pig papillary muscle or rabbit sinus node cells. Results: Tachyarrhythmia produced by isoprenaline (15 μmol/L) could be reversed by sophocarpine (300 μmol/L). Sophocarpine (10 μmol/L) decreased the amplitude by 4.0%, maximal depolarization velocity (V max ) of the fAP by 24.4%, and Na + current (I Na ) by 18.0%, while it prolonged the effective refractory period (ERP) by 21.1%. The same concentration of sophocarpine could also decrease the amplitude and V max of the sAP, by 26.8% and 25.7%, respectively, and attenuated the Ca 2+ current (I CaL ) and the K + tail current substantially. Comparison of sophocarpine with amiodarone demonstrated that both prolonged the duration and the ERP of fAP and sAP, both decreased the amplitude and V max of the fAP and sAP, and both slowed the automatic heart rate. Conclusion: Sophocarpine could reverse isoprenaline-induced arrhythmia and inhibit I Na , I CaL , and I Kr currents. The electrophysiological effects of sophocarpine are similar to those of amiodarone, which might be regarded as a prospective antiarrhythmic agent.

Sophocarpine attenuates wear particle‐induced implant loosening by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and bone resorptionviasuppression of the NF‐κB signalling pathway in a rat model

“…Sophocarpine (SPC) (Figure A) is one of the major bioactive compounds derived from the natural plant Sophora flavescens , which is widely distributed in Russia, Japan, India and China. Anti‐inflammatory, anti‐tumour, anti‐allergic, cardioprotective and neuroprotecive effects have been demonstrated in previous studies (Yang et al, ; Yifeng et al, ; Gao et al, ; Wang et al, ; Li et al, ; Zhang et al, ). SPC can inhibit LPS‐induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells via the NF‐κB and MAPKs signalling pathways (Gao et al, , ).…”

Nutraceuticals and diet in human health and disease. The special issue at a glance

“…The most promising ones were dauricine , an alkaloid from Asiatic Moonseed Rhizome , and sophocarpine , an alkaloid from Sophora flavescens , that inhibit cardiac transmembrane Na+, K+, and Ca2+ ion currents thus prolonging the action potential duration and effective refractory period. 51 , 52 The authors also warn on the possible synergistic interaction of certain herbal components (e.g., Hawthorn, Licorice and Ginseng) with cardiac glycosides.…”

Inhibition of Sophocarpine on Poly I: C/D-GalN-Induced Immunological Liver Injury in Mice

“…It has also been found that Sophocarpine is an effective agent in the treatment of viral myocarditis for both its antiviral and antiarrhythmic properties ( Zhang et al, 2006 ). Furthermore, Sophocarpine has a therapeutic effect on liver protection in that it can alleviate liver fibrosis by suppressing both the activation of hepatic stellate cells and the proliferation of the activated hepatic stellate cells ( Yang et al, 2011 ). In spite of those experimental studies and case reports, little work has mentioned the effect of Sophocarpine on NK cell activity.…”