Bacopa monnieri extract increases rat coronary flow and protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Srimachai, Sirintorn; Devaux, Sylvie; Demougeot, Celine; Kumphune, Sarawut; Ullrich, Nina; Niggli, Ernst; Ingkaninan, Kornkanok; Kamkaew, Natakorn; Scholfield, C.; Tapechum, Sompol; Chootip, Krongkarn
• Is Part Of: BMC complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 17:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Bacopa monnieri -- Brahmi -- Heart -- Coronary blood flow -- Ischemia/reperfusion -- Cardiac function -- Myocardial infarction; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1637-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-6882

Abstract

Abstract Background This study exploredBacopa monnieri, a medicinal Ayurvedic herb, as a cardioprotectant against ischemia/reperfusion injury using cardiac function and coronary flow as end-points. Methods In normal isolated rat hearts, coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure, heart rate, and functional recovery were measured using the Langendorff preparation. Hearts were perfused with either (i) Krebs-Henseleit (normal) solution, (control), or with 30, 100 μg/mlB. monnieri ethanolic extract (30 min), or (ii) with normal solution or extract for 10 min preceding no-perfusion ischemia (30 min) followed by reperfusion (30 min) with normal solution. Infarct volumes were measured by triphenyltetrazolium staining. L-type Ca2+ -currents (ICa, L ) were measured by whole-cell patching in HL-1 cells, a mouse atrial cardiomyocyte cell line. Cytotoxicity ofB. monnieri was assessed in rat isolated ventricular myocytes by trypan blue exclusion. Results In normally perfused hearts, B. monnieri increased coronary flow by 63 ± 13% (30 μg/ml) and 216 ± 21% (100 μg/ml), compared to control (5 ± 3%) (n = 8–10, p < 0.001).B. monnieri treatment preceding ischemia/reperfusion improved left ventricular developed pressure by 84 ± 10% (30 μg/ml), 82 ± 10% (100 μg/ml) and 52 ± 6% (control) compared to pre- ischemia/reperfusion. Similarly, functional recovery showed a sustained increase. Moreover, B. monnieri (100 μg/ml) reduced the percentage of infarct size from 51 ± 2% (control) to 25 ± 2% (n = 6-8, p < 0.0001).B. monnieri (100 μg/ml) reduced ICa, L by 63 ± 4% in HL-1 cells. Ventricular myocyte survival decreased at higher concentrations (50–1000 μg/ml)B. monnieri . Conclusions B. monnieri improves myocardial function following ischemia/reperfusion injury through recovery of coronary blood flow, contractile force and decrease in infarct size. Thus this may lead to a novel cardioprotectant strategy.