Abstract
Cymbopogon proximus (Halfabar), a wild plant that is usually used in folk medicine due to its diuretic and antispasmodic effects, was shown to exhibit several cardiovascular protective actions such as antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antioxidant, and antinflammatory effects. However, no reports are available regarding the investigation of the role of Cymbopogon proximus essential oil on cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, the goals of the present study were to find whether Cymbopogon proximus could alleviate isoproterenol induced‐cardiac hypertrophy and to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms. For this purpose, male albino rats were treated daily with either Cymbopogon proximus essential oil (800 μl/kg/day, ip), isoproterenol (5 mg/kg/day, ip), or the combination of both. Oil administration was started four days prior to isoproterenol administration and continued concurrently thereafter for another three days. All animal groups were euthanized 24 hours after the last dose of treatment. Thereafter, the hearts were harvested and heart weight to body weight (HW:BW) ratios were measured and sections of hearts were stained with Masson's trichrome and H&E to assess cardiac fibrosis and morphology. Our results showed that isoproterenol alone resulted in a significant increase in HW:BW ratio and marked myocardial fibrosis in treated rats. On the other hand, treatment with Cymbopogon proximus essential oil significantly reduced the isoproterenol‐mediated increase in HW:BW ratio by 55%. However, oil treatment did not affect isoproterenol mediated‐increase in myocardial fibrosis.
Conclusion
Cymbopogon proximus essential oil partly protects against isoproterenol‐induced cardiac hypertrophy with no effect on cardiac fibrosis. These findings provide support for the promising therapeutic effects of Cymbopogon proximus on cardiac diseases.
This is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this published in The FASEB Journal.