Cardioprotective Effects of Total and Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts of Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit on Epinephrine-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats Publisher

Summary: Research shows cactus fruit extracts protect rat hearts from epinephrine damage. Could this aid heart health? #Cardioprotection #NaturalRemedies

Safaeian L¹ ; Sadeghidinani M² ; Haghighatian Z³ ; Fatahian MB¹ ; Khademizadeh M⁴
Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine Published:2024

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of fruit extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica on epinephrine-induced myocardial injury in rats. Methods: Rats were pre-treated with hydroalcoholic and anthocyanin-rich extracts (250, 500, and 1 000 mg/kg) orally for 16 days. Epinephrine (2 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously on days 15 and 16. Then ECG, heart rate, RR interval, cardiac histopathology, and serum parameters of cardiac damage and oxidative stress were evaluated. Results: Pretreatment with the hydroalcoholic and anthocyanin-rich extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica at doses of 500 and 1 000 mg/kg reversed epinephrine-induced changes in ECG, heart rate, RR interval, and cardiac histopathology, and attenuated creatine phosphokinase-MB activity and malondialdehyde level. The extracts at all doses diminished heart weight, lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase, and also elevated total antioxidant capacity. However, 1 000 mg/kg of the anthocyanin-rich extract was more effective than the hydroalcoholic extract. Conclusions: Supplementation with fruit extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica, especially anthocyanin-rich extract, could protect against epinephrine-induced cardiac injury in rats by alleviating electrocardiographic, biochemical, histopathological, and oxidative stress parameters, and may be used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. © 2024 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine.