title: Myocardial protection by pretreatment with Crataegus oxyacantha: an assessment by means of the release of lactate dehydrogenase by the ischemic and reperfused Langendorff heart.
abstract: The effect of the pretreatment with the powder of crataegus oxyacantha on the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during ischemia and reperfusion was studied in an isolated rat heart model. Male Wistar rats were divided into control and crataegus group (for which the standard diet was mixed with a 2% crataegus powder standardized to 2.2% flavonoids). The investigations started 3 months after commencing the treatment. The hearts were isolated and a retrograde perfusion was performed at constant pressure according to the technique of Langendorff. The experimental protocol comprised 10 min equilibration, according to the technique of Langendorff. The experimental protocol comprised 10 min equilibration, according to the technique of Langendorff. The experimental protocol comprised 10 min equilibration, 110 min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, and 30 min reperfusion. The coronary effluent was sampled for the LDH determination after 5, 30, 90, 120 and 150 min. The LDH activity, which was initially very low in both groups (control, 16.5 +/- 4.3; crataegus, 26.0 +/- 8.8 mU/min) increased slightly during the ischemia, and very strongly as soon as the heart was reperfused. However, the increase in the crataegus group was significantly lower (1777.3 +/- 451.9 vs control 3795.3 +/- 511.9 mU/min, p = 0.01). At the end of the reperfusion period, LDH activity decreased markedly but did not reach the ischemic values. The attenuation of the LDH release by crataegus pretreatment suggests a preservation of the cell membrane and a protection from myocardial damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology II, University of Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Makdessi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sweidan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Müllner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011208:Powders; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase