Protective Effects of Flavonoid Pomiferin on Heart Ischemia-Reperfusion

Nečas J., L. Bartošíková, T. Florian, J. Klusáková, V. Suchý, E. Janoštíková, T. Bartošík, EM. B. El Naggar: Protective Effects of Flavonoid Pomiferin on Heart IschemiaReperfusion. Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: 363-370. The objective of the present 15-day study was to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of fl avonoid pomiferin isolated from the infructences of Maclura pomifera, Moraceae, against ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rat hearts as a model of antioxidant-based composite therapy. Studies were performed with isolated, modifi ed Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and ischemia of heart was initiated by stopping the coronary fl ow for 30 min, followed by 60 min of reperfusion (14 ml·min-1). Wistar rats were divided into three groups. The treated group received pomiferin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5% Avicel); the placebo group received only 0.5% Avicel; the intact group was left without any applications. Biochemical indicators of oxidative damage, lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant activity in serum and myocardium has been evaluated. We also examined the effect of pomiferin on cardiac function (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure, peak positive +dP/dt (rate of pressure development) after ischemia and reperfusion. Our results demonstrate that pomiferin attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemiareperfusion. This was confi rmed by the increase in both the antioxidant enzyme values and the total antioxidant activity. The cardio-protection provided by pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and correlates with the improved ventricular function. Maclura pomifera, pomiferin, cardioprotection, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, cardiac function Many superior plant compounds have a protective effect on human health and they are used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases in popular medicine. Flavonoids belong to these classes of compounds. They are commonly present in human diet, especially in fruit and vegetables, and their daily intake is ca 1 2 g. Many of their effects on plant and animal cells are signifi cant (Lee et al. 1998; Havsteen 2002; Rao et al. 2005). In oncology the fl avonoids are used as corroborative compounds, reducing the side effects of cytostatics, and on the other hand, they enhance therapeutical effects; this fi eld is very well documented (Kandaswami et al.1991; Nishino et al. 2004; Scambia et al.1992; Štípek 2000). Flavonoids are often used in the treatment of infl ammation because of their ability to inhibit the key enzyme in prostaglandines (PG) synthesis cyclooxygenase (COX) (O’Leary et al. 2004; Seaver and Smith 2004; Selvam et al. 2004). They were tested in post-transplantation conditions, too (Bayer et al. 2004; Zhong et al. 2004). Flavonoids, a heterogeneous group of phenol compounds, are effective antioxidants in the case of oxidative injury (Manach and Donovan 2004; Valachovicova et al. 2004). They prevent lipid peroxidation, scavenge free oxygen radicals, and inactivate pro-oxidative metal ions (iron, copper). The scavenging activity is one of the best known properties and it represents a signifi cant therapeutic use (Maxwell and Lip 1997; Urquiaga and Leighton ACTA VET. BRNO 2007, 76: 363-370; doi:10.2754/avb200776030363 Address for correspondence: Doc. MUDr. Jiří Nečas, PhD. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Palacký University Olomouc Hněvotínská 3, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic Phone: +420 585 632 351 Fax: +420 585 632 368 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm