Protective effect of oxymatrine on chronic rat heart failure

Abstract

Oxymatrine is one of the alkaloids extracted from the Chinese herb Sophora japonica (Sophora flavescens Ait.) with anti-inflammatory, immune reaction inhibiting, antiviral, and hepatocyte and antihepatic fibrosis protective activities. However, the effect of oxymatrine on heart failure is not yet known. In this study, the effect of oxymatrine on heart failure was investigated using a Sprague-Dawley rat model of chronic heart failure. Morphological findings showed that in the group treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg of oxymatrine; intermyofibrillar lysis disappeared, myofilaments were orderly, closely and evenly arranged; and mitochondria contained tightly packed cristae compared with the heart failure group. We investigated the cytosolic Ca(2+) transients and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) content, and assessed the expression of ryanodine receptor (RyR2), SR-Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA2a), and L-type Ca(2+) channel (dihydropyridine receptor, DHPR). We found that the cytosolic Ca(2+) transients were markedly increased in amplitude in the medium- (ΔF/F (0) = 26.22 ± 2.01) and high-dose groups (ΔF/F (0) = 29.49 ± 1.17) compared to the heart failure group (ΔF/F (0) = 12.12 ± 1.35, P < 0.01), with changes paralleled by a significant increase in the SR Ca(2+) content (medium-dose group: ΔF/F (0) = 32.20 ± 1.67, high-dose group: ΔF/F (0) = 32.57 ± 1.29, HF: ΔF/F (0) = 17.26 ± 1.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, we demonstrated that the expression of SERCA2a and cardiac DHPR was significantly increased in the medium- and high-dose group compared with the heart failure rats. These findings suggest that oxymatrine could improve heart failure by improving the cardiac function and that this amelioration is associated with upregulation of SERCA2a and DHPR.

Oxymatrine Ameliorates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

“…Recently, accumulating evidence has shown that oxymatrine may have protective effects on the heart. The role of oxymatrine in protection against heart failure has been confirmed in models of isoproterenol-induced and chronic heart failure [9, 26], in which oxymatrine ameliorates the hypertrophy and dysfunction of heart ventricles. Oxymatrine has also been shown to attenuate the myocardial injury induced by ischemia [10, 11] and ventricular arrhythmia [15].…”

Protective effects of low‐dose rosuvastatin on isoproterenol‐induced chronic heart failure in rats by regulation of DDAH‐ADMA‐NO pathway

“…It is well‐documented that NO is a signaling molecule widely distributed in the cardiovascular system and exerts protective effects on vascular endothelium in heart failure which can reduce the production of endogenous NO, leading to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular events in heart failure . Therefore, ADMA was regarded as a novel cardiovascular risk factor, and its elevation could aggravate the progression of heart failure.…”

“…Rosuvastatin, as a well‐known potent lipid‐lowering agent, has been the subject of numerous reports on the cardiovascular effects including improving endothelial function, preserving and restoring heart function, as well as inhibiting the proliferation and migration of vascular inflammation and oxidative stress . There are several researches showing that rosuvastatin exhibited a significant protection against the development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy by regulation of eNOS and the production of NO in endothelium .…”

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens

“…al., 2011. It has been proved owning various bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiarthritic, antimicrobial, cure myocardial fibrosis, neuroprotection, antipruritic, antiandrogen, and protecting chronic heart failure (Yamaguchi-Miyamoto et al, 2003;Cui et al, 2011;Gou et al, 2011;Hu et al, 2011;Jin et al, 2010;Kuroyanagi et al, 1999;Shen et al, 2011). Compared to the cells without oxymatrine pre-treatment, oxymatrine can inhibit ducthe G (2) and M phase of H4IIE (Ho et al, 2009;Lin et al, 2009).…”