Background.
Cardiac hypertrophy occurs in many
cardiovascular diseases. Apocynum
tablet (AT), a
traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in China to treat patients with
hypertension. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of AT on the
hypertension-induced
cardiac hypertrophy remain elusive. The current study evaluated the effect and mechanisms of AT on
cardiac hypertrophy. Methods. We created a mouse model of
cardiac hypertrophy by inducing pressure overload with surgery of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and then explored the effect of AT on the development of
cardiac hypertrophy using 46 mice in 4 study groups (combinations of AT and TAC). In addition, we evaluated the signaling pathway of phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT, and
protein expression of GATA4 in the cardioprotective effects of AT using Western blot. Results. AT inhibited the phosphorylation of Thr202/Tyr204 sites of ERK1/2, Ser473 site of AKT, and
protein expression of GATA4 and significantly inhibited
cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac
fibrosis at 2 weeks after TAC surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusions. We experimentally demonstrated that AT inhibits
cardiac hypertrophy via suppressing phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and AKT.