Cardioprotective potential of Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Context: Spinacia oleracea is rich in antioxidant phyto-constituents, termed as the natural antioxidant mixture (NAO). Objective: This study investigates the cardioprotective effect of an antioxidant-rich extract of Spinacia oleracea (NAOE) and its phytoconstituent rutin in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Methods: Rats were treated with NAOE (400 and 800 mg/kg), rutin (50 mg/kg) and the reference drug gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg) daily for 30 days and were administered ISO (85 mg/kg, s.c) on the last 2 days. Results: NAOE treatment attenuated the ISO-elevated levels of serum marker enzymes (AST, LDH and CPK), troponin I, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, CRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and malondialdehyde. It also restored the ISO-skewed ECG and systolic blood pressure, and the ISO-depleted marker enzymes and endogenous antioxidants in all treated rats. Conclusion: It may be concluded that NAOE treatment to ISO-challenged rats exhibited significant cardioprotective effect probably due to the potent antioxidant activity of its NAO.