Injection forms of
potassium (K) and
magnesium (Mg)
aspartate (Asp) were compared in preventing
cardiac disorders caused by electrolytic disturbances, primarily low K and Mg levels (e.g. caused by the treatment with
cardiac glycosides and
diuretic drugs). Widely used K- and Mg-Asp preparations (
asparkam,
panangin, pamaton) are synthesized from
aspartic acid representing a racemic mixture of L- and D-stereoisomers. Differences in metabolism and utilization of D- and L-
amino acids probably influence the pharmacological properties of K and Mg L- and D-aspartates. Moreover, the pharmacologically effective doses of Mg and K
salts can induce toxicity, which depends on the nature of
anions. The aim of this study was to compare of antiarrhythmic action of K and Mg L-, D-, and DL-Asp stereoisomers using
calcium chloride (CaCl2) and
aconitine induced
arrhythmia models in rats and
strophanthin-K induced
arrhythmia model in guinea pigs. It was found that intravenously administered K- and Mg-L-Asp exhibited higher activity compared to K- and Mg-D- and DL-Asp on the
strophanthin-K, CaCl2, and
aconitine induced
arrhythmia models. Indeed, K- and Mg-L-Asp more effectively decreased the incidence of arrhythmias, increased the time to onset of the first
arrhythmia, decreased percentage loss of rats, and increased the survival life of animals after the first
arrhythmia onset in rats with arrhythmias induced by
strophanthin-K and CaCl2 as compared to K and Mg-D- and DL-Asp. At the same time K- and Mg-L-Asp was better than D- and DL-Asp with respect to acute toxicity (LD50), effective dose (ED50) and antiarrhythmic (therapeutic) ratio (LD50/ED50) in rats with
aconitine-induced
arrhythmia model.