Ameliorative effect of Psoralea corylifolia seeds against experimental myocardial oxidative stress-induced injury in rats

The effect of methanolic extract of Psoralea corylifolia seeds (PCM) was assessed using isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction model in rats. PCM was administered orally to Wistar rats (150–200g) in two different doses, by gastric gavage (250mg/kg, 500mg/kg) for 21 days followed by subcutaneous administration of isoproterenol (85mg/kg). Isoproterenol administration resulted in significant increase in lipid peroxides (MDA) levels in heart tissue as a result of oxidative stress. A significant decrease was observed in the activity of the myocardial marker enzymes viz. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) with a concomitant increase in their activity in serum in isoproterenol treated rats. Isoproterenol administration also had a significant effect on lipid profile as evidenced by increased triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol levels with a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels. These levels were significantly ameliorated by pretreatment with PCM. Activities of heart antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were significantly lowered owing to myocardial infarction in isoproterenol treated rats. PCM pretreatment was found to ameliorate the effect of isoproterenol on lipid peroxide formation and retained the activity of marker enzymes. It also prevented the isoproterenol-induced decrease in antioxidant enzymes in heart and improved lipid profile. The results indicated that pretreatment with Psoralea corylifolia prevents the damage induced by isoproterenol in rat heart.