Inhibition of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens on myocardial fibrosis in rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens on the myocardial fibrosis induced by isoprenaline (Iso) and its mechanism in rats. Methods: Myocardial fibrosis model in rats was established by sc injection with Iso (5 mg/kg) for 7 d. The model rats were treated with low-, mid-, and high-dose (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) flavonoids from S. flavescens and captopril (50 mg/kg) respectively by ig for 21 d. Myocardial indexes (heart weight/body weight, HW/BW and left ventricular weight/body weight, LVW/BW) were measured after the experiment was finished. The contents of collagen I, collagen III, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in myocardium and the level of angiotensin II (AngII) in blood serum were determined by ELISA. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in myocardium was assayed with spectrophotometry. The content of nitric oxide (NO) in myocardium was detected with colorimetry. The pathological changes of myocardium were observed. Results: Compared with the control group, the myocardial indexes and the contents of collagen I, collagen III, TNF-α, MDA in myocardium, and the level of AngII in blood serum were markedly increased, the content of NO in myocardium was decreased in the model group (P<0.05, 0.01). Compared with the model group, the myocardial indexes, the contents of collagen I, collagen III, MDA in myocardium, and the level of AngII in blood serum were markedly reduced, the content of NO in myocardium was increased in mid-and high-dose flavonoids from S. flavescens groups (P<0.05, 0.01). The level of TNF-α in myocardium was reduced in all flavonoids from S. flavescens groups (P<0.05, 0.01). HE staining showed that myocardial tissue had obviously myocardial damage and the formation of fibrosis lesions in the model group; The myocardial tissue had few fibrosis lesions in mid-and high-dose flavonoids from S. flavescens groups. Conclusion: Flavonoids from S. flavescens could inhibit myocardial fibrosis and protect myocardium in rats, and its mechanism may be associated with decreasing AngII level in circulation and myocardium, lowering TNF-α content in myocardium, and inhibiting collagen synthesis by increasing the NO level and anti-oxidation.