The present 15 days study was undertaken to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of the prenylated
isoflavones osajin and
pomiferin isolated from the infructences of Maclura pomifera, Moraceae, against
ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rat hearts as a model of
antioxidant-based composite
therapy. The study was performed on isolated, modified Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and the
ischemia of heart was induced by stopping coronary flow for 30 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion (14 ml min(-1)). The Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The first treatment group received
osajin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5%
Avicel); the second treatment group received
pomiferin (5 mg/kg/day in 0.5%
Avicel); the placebo group received only 0.5
Avicel; the last was an untreated control group. Biochemical
indicator of oxidative damage-lipid peroxidation product
malondialdehyde,
antioxidant enzymes -
superoxide dismutase,
glutathione peroxidase, total
antioxidant activity in serum and myocardium were evaluated. The effect of
osajin and
pomiferin on cardiac function, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular pressure and peak positive +dP/dt
ischemia and reperfusion, also was examined. The results demonstrate that
osajin and
pomiferin attenuates the myocardial dysfunction provoked by ischemiareperfusion. This was confirmed by an increase in both
antioxidant enzyme values and total
antioxidant activity. The cardioprotection provided by
osajin and
pomiferin treatment results from the suppression of oxidative stress and this correlates with improved ventricular function.