M. Sumitra et al., Experimental myocardial necrosis in rats: Role of arjunolic acid on platelet aggregation, coagulation and antioxidant status, MOL C BIOCH, 224(1-2), 2001, pp. 135-142
Arjunolic acid, a new triterpene and a potent principle from the bark of Te
rminalia arjuna, has been shown to provide significant cardiac protection i
n isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats. To further explore the
mechanism of action of arjunolic acid, antiplatelet activity, anticoagulan
t assays, electrocardiographic changes, serum marker enzymes, antioxidant s
tatus, lipid peroxide and myeloperoxidase (MPO) have been measured and the
results are compared with a potent cardioprotective drug, acetyl salicylic
acid (ASA). Administration of isoproterenol produces electrocardiographic c
hanges such as decreased R amplitude and increased ST segment elevation and
has resulted in an increase in serum marker enzyme levels as well as a dec
rease in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels. Arjunolic acid at a
n effective dosage of 15 mg/kg body weight (pre and post treatment),when ad
ministered intraperitoneally (i.p.), effects a decrease in serum enzyme lev
els and the electrocardiographic changes get restored towards normalcy. Arj
unolic acid treatment is also shown to prevent the decrease in the levels o
f superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, ceruloplasmin, al
pha -tocopherol, reduced glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, lipid peroxide,
MPO and the cardioprotection is confirmed by the histopathological studies.
This study shows that the cardioprotection of arjunolic acid pre and post t
reatment could possibly be due to the protective effect against the damage
caused by myocardial necrosis.