Abstract

CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ZANTHOXYLUM AMERICANUM MILL. ON ISOPROTERENOL-INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS

Khatereh Shahrjerdi*

Abstract

The role of traditional medicine in the solution of health problems is invaluable on a global level. Medicinal plants continue to provide valuable therapeutic agents, both in modern and in traditional medicine. With the associated side effects of the modern medicine, traditional medicines are gaining importance and are now being studied to find the scientific basis of their therapeutic actions. Isoproterenol (ISO) induced cardiotoxicityserves as a well standardized model for studying certain physiological and pathological events i.e, changes in lipids, enzymes and hormones during the course of hearttoxicity. Recently, herbal drugs, which are non-toxic and naturally occurring, are gaining much significance in the treatment of many diseases. Zanthoxylum americanum is warehouse of assorted bioactive constituents or phytochemicals which find ample use in the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of present study is to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Zanthoxylum americanum against ISO-induced oxidative stress. Adding up to this heart markers, lipid profile, electrolytes and heart histopathology were examined to assess the protective effect of Bark in ISO-induced cardiotoxicity. Our results showed protective effect against ISO-induced hepatic injury. Further studies are needed to evaluate the identification of bioactive constituents from the Zanthoxylum americanum for its cardioprotecive activity.

Keywords: Zanthoxylum americanum, cardioprotective, isoproterenol, wistar rats.