Cardioprotective effect of water and ethanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza in an experimental model of myocardial infarction

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Salvia miltiorrhiza has long been used in the traditional Chinese formulations for the treatment of heart ischemic diseases.

Aim of the study

We investigated the cardioprotective effect of purified Salvia miltiorrhiza extract (SME) in an experimental model of acute myocardial infarction.

Materials and methods

Following induction of acute myocardial infarction in rats by adminstration of isoproterenol, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic parameters were monitored and recorded continuously, cardiac enzymes and parameters of oxidative stress were measured, and histopathological examination of heart tissue was performed. Experiments were performed in rats treated with SME or vehicle, as well as in those treated with Fufang Danshen Tablet (FDT) as a positive control which has previously been shown to prevent myocardial ischemia.

Results

Isoproterenol-treated rats showed reductions in left ventricular systolic pressure as well as in maximum and minimum rate of developed left ventricular pressure, together with an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. They also demonstrated ST-segment elevation, together with increases in serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, creatine kinase and malondialdehyde, as well as decreases in serum activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Oral administration of SME (29.76 or 59.52 mg/kg) blunted all of the hemodynamic and biochemical changes induced by isoproterenol, as did FDT (1210 mg/kg). The protective effect of SME on isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage was further confirmed by histopathological examination.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that SME affords protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.