Protective effect of crocetin from Crocus sativus L. on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Chengxiao Liu,Wenjun Meng,Erlian Sun,Guoqing Sun

doi:10.1590/fst.28918

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the protective effect of crocetin from Crocus sativus L. on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats. Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated, model, and low-, medium- and high-dose crocetin groups. Later 3 groups were intragastrically administrated with 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg crocetin from Crocus sativus L., respectively, for 1 week. On the 8th day, the MIRI model was established in the later 4 groups. The blood biochemical indexes, hemodynamic indexes, myocardial infarct size, myocardial antioxidant indexes and myocardial expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), serine/threonine kinase (Akt) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) protein were determined. Results showed that, compared with model group, in high-dose crocetin group the left ventricular systolic pressure, +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax, myocardial superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels, and myocardial Bcl-2/Bax ratio and p-Akt/Akt ratio were significantly increased, and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure, myocardial infarct size, serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase-MB, cardiac troponin I, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). In conclusion, crocetin from Crocus sativus L. has protective effects on MIRI in rats.

Highlights

With the increase of elderly population proportion and the improvement of people’s living standard, the incidence of ischemic heart disease is increasing year by year
The vascular recanalization and reconstruction techniques such as thrombolysis, interventional therapy and coronary artery bypass grafting can quickly restore the coronary perfusion, the incidence of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is still high, and it has become an important cause of death in ischemic heart disease (Venardos et al, 2007)
Crocetin has protective effects on myocardium, and its mechanism may be related to its anti-lipid peroxidation, inhibition of free radical production and calcium overload, and inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis (Shen et al, 2006; Zhang et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

With the increase of elderly population proportion and the improvement of people’s living standard, the incidence of ischemic heart disease is increasing year by year. MIRI can lead to the myocardial irreversible damage, and cause the myocardial morphological changes It is characterized by myocardial fiber rupture, arrangement disorder, interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration (Zhai et al, 2000; Wang et al, 2018). How to effectively delay and control the occurrence and development of MIRI is an urgent problem in the prevention and treatment of ischemic heart disease. The inflammatory response and oxidative stress are involved in the occurrence and development of MIRI (Vinten-Johansen et al, 2007; Yu et al, 2016). This study investigated the protective effect of crocetin on MIRI in rats and the related mechanisms.

Methods

Results

Conclusion