ABSTRACT
Aims: To investigate the influence of ethanolic hawthorn leaves extract (EHLE) oral administration (200 mg / kg body weight /day) on isoproterenol (ISO) induced- myocardial infarction (MI) in rats and its bioactive constituents. Methods: Healthy adult male albino rats (Sprague-Dawely strain) were divided into five groups (10 rats /group); MI was induced in rats by ISO at a dose of {85 mg/kg body weight/day subcutaneously (S.C.,)} on two consecutive days with a 24 hours interval. Results: Pre-and post-treatment with EHLE significantly (p≤0.05) lowered the elevated serum cardiac enzyme marker activities namely, creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CK- MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and specific MI markers level of galectin-3(Gal-3), cardiac troponin I (cTnI). Also, significantly (p≤0.05) ameliorated oxidant/ antioxidant status by decreasing oxidative stress biomarkers [tissue nitric oxide (NO), serum and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA)], and increasing antioxidant status [glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] in ISO-injected rats. Microscopic examination of heart tissues confirmed these results. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that EHLE has a cardioprotective effect against ISO-induced MI in rats due to its high antioxidant properties, inhibition of lipid peroxidation and restoration of cardiac enzyme activities.