Nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in cardioprotection induced by pomegranate juice against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion

Abstract

Pomegranate juice (Pg) has demonstrated cardiovascular beneficial effects. The current research intends to investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidants in Pg-induced cardioprotection against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Isolated hearts from anesthetized rats were subjected to 30-min global ischemia followed by 120-min reperfusion. The hearts in the test groups were treated with Pg, N -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or both throughout the experiment. In Pg group, left ventricular developed pressure, rate of rise in left ventricular pressure (dp/dt max), and rate pressure product were 83%, 55%, and 127%, respectively, higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The infarct size declined to less than 40% (p < 0.0001), and biomarkers of myocardial damage including creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and troponin-I, showed significant reductions (59%, 36%, and 94%, respectively) compared with the control. Furthermore, the indices of oxidative status including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and malondialdehyde showed significant improvement (2.4, 1.7, 1.9, and 2.4 fold, respectively). Most of these effects were mainly blocked by L-NAME. These results suggest potent cardioprotective effects for Pg against myocardial I/R injury. The current results suggest a key role for NO for this cardioprotection; however, other mechanisms seem to be also involved.

Reducing Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by the Targeted Delivery of Nitric Oxide from Magnetic-Field-Induced Localization of S-Nitrosothiol-Coated Paramagnetic Nanoparticles

“…Nitric oxide (NO), an endothelium-derived relaxing factor with various beneficial biologic actions, is another therapeutic candidate. Results show that NO may protect different organs and tissues against the noxious insult associated with IR injuries. − …”

Phytochemicals of Punica granatum L. in inflammatory bowel diseases: a overview

“…Its mechanisms as phytotherapics are derived from its bioactive compounds, being predominantly polyphenols, which have been identified 23 different compounds [2]. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of pomegranate, mainly concentrated in the portion of the fruit peel, such as ellagic acid, which, according to its structural arrangement, corroborates for prophylaxis of diseases [3,4].…”