Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the development of
cardiac hypertrophy and
heart failure. So mitochondria are emerging as one of the important druggable targets in the management of
cardiac hypertrophy and other associated complications. In the present study, effects of ethanolic extract of Boerhaavia diffusa (BDE), a green leafy vegetable against
mitochondrial dysfunction in
angiotensin II (Ang II) induced
hypertrophy in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts was evaluated. H9c2 cells challenged with Ang II exhibited pathological hypertrophic responses and
mitochondrial dysfunction which was evident from increment in cell volume (49.09±1.13%),
protein content (55.17±1.19%), LDH leakage (58.74±1.87%), increased intracellular ROS production (26.25±0.91%), mitochondrial
superoxide generation (65.06±2.27%), alteration in mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), opening of
mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and mitochondrial swelling. In addition, activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (I-IV),
aconitase,
NADPH oxidase,
thioredoxin reductase, oxygen consumption rate and
calcium homeostasis were evaluated. Treatment with BDE significantly prevented the generation of intracellular ROS and mitochondrial
superoxide radicals and protected the mitochondria by preventing dissipation of ΔΨm, opening of
mPTP, mitochondrial swelling and enhanced the activities of respiratory chain complexes and oxygen consumption rate in H9c2 cells. Activities of
aconitase and
thioredoxin reductase which was lowered (33.77±0.68% & 45.81±0.71% respectively) due to
hypertrophy, were increased in BDE treated cells (P≤0.05). Moreover, BDE also reduced the intracellular
calcium overload in Ang II treated cells. Overall results revealed the protective effects of B. diffusa against
mitochondrial dysfunction in
hypertrophy in H9c2 cells and the present findings may shed new light on the therapeutic potential of B. diffusa in addition to its nutraceutical potentials.