The Role of Alcoholic Extract of Cranberry in Improving Serum Indices of Experimental Metaproterenol-induced Heart Damage in Rats

Abstract

Cranberry has countless cardiovascular benefits. According to some studies, this fruit causes the oxidation of low-capacity lipoprotein, improves high-capacity lipoprotein, reduces platelet coagulability, and promotes vascular activity. Albino male rats were divided into five groups (n = 5 per group). In the control group, normal saline was administered intraperitoneally. The second group was injected with metaproterenol (MET) three days a week for four weeks. The third, fourth, and fifth groups received 75, 100, and 150 doses of cranberry extract along with heart-damaging drugs. Then the blood samples were taken and sent to the laboratory on the fourth weekend and a week after finishing the injections in the fourth week (the sixth weekend) to check the serum factors, including cardiac creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The serum activity of the cardiac evaluation parameters in the fourth week revealed a highly significant relationship between the studied groups regarding AST and cTnI (p˂0.001). Moreover, a significant relationship was reported between AST and cTnI among the target groups (p˂0.05). Finally, the findings revealed that the consumption of blueberry extract with its effect on heart function could effectively modify the serum indicators associated with heart damage. The used extract was also effective; however, its effects were not stable. Accordingly, it is recommended to be used synergistically with other chemical and herbal medicines to achieve more prolonged effects.