Purpose: To investigate whether ocotillol, a derivate of pseudoginsenoside F11, might protect the heart against myocardial injury (MI) induced by isoproterenol (CAS 7683-59-2, ISO) in rats.
Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered orally (5, 10 and 20 mg kg(-1)) for 8 days. During the last two days all animals except the normal control were administered ISO, 50 mg kg(-1) subcutaneously, for 2 consecutive days to induce myocardial injury. 8 h later, rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed. The biochemical parameters were assayed and pathological examination of the heart tissues was performed.
Result: Ocotillol could significantly decrease the increased level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in animals with myocardial injury induced by ISO. In the heart of ISO injected rats the superoxide dismutase (SOD) was decreased but the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased. Pre-treatment with ocotillol could attenuate the changes of both SOD and MDA. The ISO-induced pathohistological changes were also ameliorated by ocotillo.
Conclusion: The findings suggested that ocotillol could have cardioprotective effects on myocardial injury induced by ISO in rats, which may be, in part, by virtue of enhancing the antioxidative potency of the heart.