Cardioprotective Effects of Lagenaria siceraria Fruit Juice on Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial Infarction in Wistar Rats: A Biochemical and Histoarchitecture Study

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of Lagenaria siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Rats injected with isoproterenol (200 mg/kg, s.c.) showed a significant increase in the levels of serum uric acid, tissue Na ⁺⁺ and Ca ⁺⁺ ions and membrane-bound Ca ⁺² -ATPase activity. A significant decrease in the levels of serum protein, tissue K ⁺ ion, vitamin E level, and the activities of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase and mg ⁺² -ATPase was observed. Isoproterenol injected rats also showed a significant increase in the intensity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme and histopathologic alterations in the heart. Treatment with L. siceraria fruit juice (400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 30 days and administration of isoproterenol on 29 ^th and 30 ^th days showed a protective effect on altered biochemical and histopathologic changes. These findings indicate the cardioprotective effect of L. siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Key words:Antioxidant activity,isoproterenol,Lagenaria siceraria,myocardial infarction.