Amalaki rasayana, a traditional Indian drug enhances cardiac mitochondrial and contractile functions and improves cardiac function in rats with hypertrophy

Vikas Kumar,Raj S S Binil,Kumar G S Ajith,Kumar A Aneesh,R S Mony,T S Muraleedharan,A Jaleel,Neha Deora,G Sanjay,K Kshemada,E M Anandan,Kumar T R Santhosh,M S Valiathan,C C Kartha

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09225-x

Abstract

We evaluated the cardioprotective effect of Amalaki Rasayana (AR), a rejuvenating Ayurvedic drug prepared from Phyllanthusemblica fruits in the reversal of remodeling changes in pressure overload left ventricular cardiac hypertrophy (LVH) and age-associated cardiac dysfunction in male Wistar rats. Six groups (aging groups) of 3 months old animals were given either AR or ghee and honey (GH) orally; seventh group was untreated. Ascending aorta was constricted using titanium clips in 3 months old rats (N = 24; AC groups) and after 6 months, AR or GH was given for further 12 months to two groups; one group was untreated. Histology, gene and protein expression analysis were done in heart tissues. Chemical composition of AR was analyzed by HPLC, HPTLC and LC-MS. AR intake improved (P < 0.05) cardiac function in aging rats and decreased LVH (P < 0.05) in AC rats as well as increased (P < 0.05) fatigue time in treadmill exercise in both groups. In heart tissues of AR administered rats of both the groups, SERCA2, CaM, Myh11, antioxidant, autophagy, oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cycle proteins were up regulated. ADRB1/2 and pCREB expression were increased; pAMPK, NF-kB were decreased. AR has thus a beneficial effect on myocardial energetics, muscle contractile function and exercise tolerance capacity.

Highlights

Ayurveda which signifies the science of long life, is one of the ancient (>5000 years old) systems of medicine in India
The RP-HPLC profile of Amalaki Rasayana (AR) in acetonitrile showed different peaks at retention time of 2.155, 2.568, 5.482, 7.985, 18.026 and 18.210 min when compared with ghee and honey (GH) (Supplementary Fig. S1c,e; Supplementary Table S1C)
The new science of Ayurvedic Biology focuses on creating evidence at organ, tissue, cellular and molecular levels for the beneficial effects observed at bodily levels in humans[16]

Summary

Introduction

Ayurveda which signifies the science of long life, is one of the ancient (>5000 years old) systems of medicine in India. Bhattacharya SK et al studied the effect of tannoid principles of fresh juice of emblica fruits on ischemia-reperfusion (IRI)-induced oxidative stress in the rat heart. Bhatia J et al evaluated the effect of hydroalcoholic lyophilized extract of emblica in rats with hypertension induced by deoxycorticosterone acetate or 1% sodium chloride high salt (DOCA/HS) administration[14] They reported that Emblica officinalis reduces oxidative stress and prevents development and progression of hypertension by modulating levels of serum NO, activated eNOS endogenous antioxidants, and electrolytes. Studies by Yokozawa et al indicate that Amala may attenuates oxidative stress and may prevent hyperlipidemia associated with aging[15] These studies prompted us to evaluate the effect of AR in the reversal of remodeling changes in pressure overload left ventricular cardiac hypertrophy and age-associated cardiac dysfunction in rats. No in vivo studies have been previously done to evaluate the cardio protective effect of AR in pressure overload hypertrophy and cardiac function in aging animals

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Conclusion