ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the protective effects of pigeonpea leaves on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. Methods: A model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion was established by ligating the anterior descending coronary arteries. Rats were administrated with extract from pigeonpea leaves (125, 200, and 500 mg/kg) before ischemia, and the size of myocardial infarction, arrhythmia score, and morphological changes of cardiomyocytes were determined. Results: Compared with the model group, pigeonpea leaves could reduce arrhythmia severity and incidence (P<0.05 or 0.01) and the size of myocardial infarction (P<0.05). Pigeonpea leaves could ameliorate the pathological lesion. Conclusion: Pigeonpea leaves have the protective effects on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.