Cardioprotective effect of embelin ameliorates acute myocardial infarction through the inhibitions of inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress in rats

Embelin possesses a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidative anti-inflammation, antibacteria, anti-fertility, protecting brain injury, anticonvulsant, promoting wound healing, anti-depressant effects. However, the cardio-protective effect of embelin on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is largely unknown. This study investigated the cardio-protective effect and possible mechanism of embelin on AMI rats. Rats were pretreated for three days with embelin (50 mg/kg, p.o) after rat inducing AMI model. Serum specific cardiac injury biomarkers (CK-MB, LDH and AST) and infarct size were analyzed. Inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress and caspase-3/9 expressions were evaluated using commercial kits. Cytochrome c, Bcl-2, Bax and PARP protein expressions were appraised using western blot analysis. Results showed that administering embelin significantly reduced the elevated serum levels of CK-MB, LDH, AST and infarct size of AMI rats, when compared to AMI rat group. Meanwhile, pretreatment with embelin significantly decreased inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress of AMI rats. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms of embelin revealed interrupted mitochondria dependent apoptotic damage through downregulating the expression of caspase-3/9, cytochrome c, Bax and PARP, and increasing the myocardial expression of Bcl-2. Result suggested that the cardioprotective effect of embelin ameliorates acute myocardial infarction through the inhibitions inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress in rats.