title: Crataegus special extract WS 1442 increases force of contraction in human myocardium cAMP-independently.
abstract: The mode of action of Crataegus extracts in the treatment of heart failure is still under examination. WS 1442, a standardized special extract from Crataegus leaves with flowers, exerts direct positive inotropic effects. This study was designed to investigate the mode of inotropic action of WS 1442 in human myocardium from patients with congestive heart failure (left ventricular myocardium from explanted hearts; NYHA IV, n = 8) as well as in nonfailing controls (right auricular trabeculae from patients with coronary heart disease, n = 8). WS 1442 effectively displaced specifically bound 3H-ouabain but did not influence the activity of adenylate cyclase [control, + Gpp(NH)p (10(-4) microM) 3,500 pmol cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/20 min). In isolated left ventricular papillary muscle strips, WS 1442 significantly increased the force of contraction [basal, 1.8+/-0.2 mN; WS 1442 (50 microg/ml), 2.4+/-0.1 mN (130%)] and improved the frequency-dependent force generation (0.5 vs. 2.5 Hz: control, +0.1+/-0.01 mN; WS 1442, +0.9+/-0.3 mN) even in failing human myocardium. In fura-2-loaded muscle strips (right atrial trabeculae), WS 1442 increased both the Ca2+-transient and force generation. These effects also were observed in the lipophilic ethyl acetate-soluble fraction A, enriched in flavone derivatives. In conclusion, these findings suggest a pharmacologic mechanism of WS 1442 similar to the cAMP-independent positive inotropic action of cardiac glycosides. In addition, WS 1442 improves the force-frequency relation in failing human myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Muscle Research and Molecular Cardiology, Clinic III of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Germany. Robert.Schwinger@medizin.Uni-Koeln.de
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietsch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brixius
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D044946:Biflavonoids; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010042:Ouabain / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D019685:Rosales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D044946:Biflavonoids; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D014316:Tritium; C017674:procyanidin; D010042:Ouabain; D002392:Catechin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D002118:Calcium