The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of Lagenaria siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Rats injected with isoproterenol (200 mg/kg, s.c.) showed a significant increase in the levels of serum uric acid, tissue Na(++) and Ca(++) ions and membrane-bound Ca(+2)-ATPase activity. A significant decrease in the levels of serum protein, tissue K(+) ion, vitamin E level, and the activities of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and mg(+2)-ATPase was observed. Isoproterenol injected rats also showed a significant increase in the intensity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme and histopathologic alterations in the heart. Treatment with L. siceraria fruit juice (400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 30 days and administration of isoproterenol on 29(th) and 30(th) days showed a protective effect on altered biochemical and histopathologic changes. These findings indicate the cardioprotective effect of L. siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.
Keywords: Antioxidant activity; Lagenaria siceraria; isoproterenol; myocardial infarction.