Cardioprotective Effect of 'Khamira Abresham Hakim Arshad Wala' a Unani Formulation in Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial Necrosis in Rats

The present study was designed to investigate whether Khamira Abresham Hakim Arshad Wala (KAHAW), a preparation of Unani System of Medicine, is able to attenuate the isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial necrosis on the basis of its effects on hemodynamic, antioxidant, histopathological and ultrastructural parameters. Male Wistar albino rats were administered KAHAW (200, 400 and 800mg/kg/day, orally) or vehicle for 14 days with concurrent ISO administration (85mg/kg, subcutaneously, 2 doses at 24h interval) on 13th and 14th day. On the 15th day, vehicle+ISO-treated rats exhibit cardiac dysfunctions as indicated by decrease in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures, reduction in both maximum positive and maximum negative rates of developed left ventricular pressure (+/-LVdp/dt) and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Biochemical analysis of their heart homogenate presented reduced levels of enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme. A marked reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels along with increase in levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was also observed in rat myocardium. Myocardial necrosis, edema and inflammation were evident from the light microscopic and ultrastructural changes. KAHAW at dose of 800mg/kg/day significantly reversed majority of hemodynamic and antioxidant derangements. The protective role of KAHAW on ISO-induced myocardial necrosis was further confirmed by histopathological and ultrastructural examination. There was no significant change in heart rate in all experimental groups. KAHAW per se groups showed no significant change when compared with vehicle control group. The study results thus demonstrated the cardioprotective potential of KAHAW against ISO-induced myocardial necrosis and associated oxidative stress.