Main Article Content
Evaluation of cardioprotective potential of hydroalcohol peel extract of Citrullus colocynthis Linn. (Cucurbitaceae)
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the cardioprotective potential of hydroalcoholic peel extract of C. colocynthis against adrenaline-induced myocardial ischemia in rabbits.
Methods: 24 healthy male rabbits were split into 4 groups. Group-I rabbits were administered with subcutaneous injection of adrenaline for two days consecutively. Group-II, Group-III and Group- IV rabbits were given 100, 200 and 300mg/kg of peel extract of C. colocynthis for 14 days orally and the adrenaline was injected on the 14th and 15th day. Histopathology was done to the necrosis level.
Results: Adrenaline-induced group significantly (p< 0.001) elevated the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine-kinase (CK-MB) and troponin-I. Groups treated with plant extract showed cardioprotective effects by causing a significant decrease (p < 0.001) of all the abovementioned biomarkers in comparison with the adrenaline treated group. The cardiac tissues of the adrenaline-treated group showed more necrosis, and mild disintegration of cardiac tissues was observed in groups that had been pre-treated with extract.
Conclusion: Pretreatment of rabbits with peel extract produces a cardioprotective effect against adrenaline-induced myocardial damage. Thus, the extract can potentially be utilized as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.