Cardioprotective action of Amaranthus viridis methanolic extract and its isolated compound Kaempferol through mitigating lipotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation in the heart

The current study was designed to evaluate the cardio-protective efficacy of Amaranthus viridis L. methanolic extract (AVME) and kaempferol, which was isolated from AVME in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The rats were pre-treated with AVME (250 mg/kg body weight) and kaempferol (50 mg/kg BW) for 30 days, respectively, and then administered with ISO (20 mg/100 g body weight) on the 31st and 32nd days. We assessed the protective effects of AVME and kaempferol against ISO-induced cardiotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The study revealed that supplementation with AVME and kaempferol significantly attenuated cardiac lipotoxicity by reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels and simultaneously increasing the levels of high-density lipoproteins. In addition, AVME and kaempferol suppressed oxidative stress by enhancing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the heart. Further, they ameliorated cardiac inflammation by mitigating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 beta). Hence, the study results and histopathological analysis emphasized that AVME and kaempferol could be prospective prophylactic agents against ISO-induced cardiotoxicity and may be considered nutraceuticals in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders.