Parkia speciosa Hassk. Empty Pod Extract Alleviates Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy in H9c2 Cells by Modulating the Ang II/ROS/NO Axis and MAPK Pathway

Abstract

Cardiac hypertrophy is characteristic of heart failure in patients who have experienced cardiac remodeling. Many medicinal plants, including Parkia speciosa Hassk., have documented cardioprotective effects against such pathologies. This study investigated the activity of P. speciosa empty pod extract against cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II). In particular, its role in modulating the Ang II/reactive oxygen species/nitric oxide (Ang II/ROS/NO) axis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was examined. Treatment with the extract (12.5, 25, and 50 μg/ml) prevented Ang II-induced increases in cell size, NADPH oxidase activity, B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and reactive oxygen species and reductions in superoxide dismutase activity. These were comparable to the effects of the valsartan positive control. However, the extract did not significantly ameliorate the effects of Ang II on inducible nitric oxide synthase activity and nitric oxide levels, while valsartan did confer such protection. Although the extract decreased the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-related kinase, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, valsartan only decreased phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase expression. Phytochemical screening identified the flavonoids rutin (1) and quercetin (2) in the extract. These findings suggest that P. speciosa empty pod extract protects against Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, possibly by modulating the Ang II/ROS/NO axis and MAPK signaling pathway via a mechanism distinct from valsartan.

Peroxiredoxin-5 Knockdown Accelerates Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy in Mice

“…As intracellular signaling proteins, MAPKs have been shown to regulate various cellular processes, including cell size, cell growth, and cell survival, in response to extracellular stimuli [ 41 – 43 ]. It is well established that the activation of MAPK signaling increases cardiac damage and exacerbates pathological cardiac hypertrophy [ 44 – 46 ]. In this study, Prx5 knockdown accelerated pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction.…”

Molecular mechanisms of sacubitril/valsartan in cardiac remodeling

“…Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive and compensatory mechanism (characterized by an increase in cardiomyocyte size and thickening of ventricular walls) that involves alterations in cell structure and protein synthesis ( Zhang et al, 2003 ; Siti et al, 2020 ). The development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy is usually accompanied by increased expression of typical cardiac genes ANP and BNP ( Tham et al, 2015 ; Siti et al, 2021b ). Thus, the plasma level of these peptides are measured as indicators for cardiac dysfunction, including cardiac hypertrophy ( Moyes and Hobbs, 2019 ).…”

Phytochemical Contents and Pharmacological Potential of Parkia speciosa Hassk. for Diabetic Vasculopathy: A Review

“…A current in vitro study by Siti et al (2021) reported the effect of ethanol extract of P. speciosa empty pod on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in H9c2 cells [ 86 ]. In the study, treatment with P. speciosa extracts prevented Ang II-induced increases in cell size, NADPH oxidase activity, B-type natriuretic peptide levels, and ROS and reduced SOD activity.…”