Danshensu exerts cardioprotective effects in rats with acute myocardial infarction via reduction of infiltration of inflammatory cells and mitigation of myocardial fibrosis

Purpose: To investigate the mitigative impact of danshensu on heart tissues in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rats, and the mechanism of action involved. Methods: Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study. After successful induction of myocardial infarction, the rats were divided into model group (MG), low-dose danshensu group (LDG; 15 mg/kg), middle-dose danshensu group (MDG; 30 mg/kg), and high-dose danshensu group (HDG; 60 mg/kg), with 15 rats per group. Rats in sham group (SG; n = 15) served as control. Serum levels of biochemical indicators and expressions of various proteins in myocardial tissue were determined using Western blotting, and compared amongst the rat groups. Results: Serum cTnI concentrations in MDG and HDG were significantly decreased, relative to the corresponding concentrations in MDG. There were significantly lower serum concentrations of IL-1 in MDG and HDG than in model rats. Rats in HDG had lower serum IL-6 concentration than MG rats, while TNF-alpha levels were down-regulated in MDG and HDG, relative to MG (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Danshensu protects the heart function of rats with AMI by decreasing inflammation-derived cells and mitigating myocardial fibrosis. Thus, it may be useful in the management of AMI in humans but clinical trials are necessary to ascertain this.