title: Catecholamine-induced myocardial fibrosis and oxidative stress is attenuated by Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Myocardial fibrosis and oxidative stress accompany a number of cardiac disorders such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease and cardiac failure. Stem bark of Terminalia arjuna has been advocated for cardiac ailments. The present study evaluated the effects of T. arjuna bark extract on myocardial fibrosis and oxidative stress induced by chronic beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aqueous extract of T. arjuna bark was evaluated at 63, 125 and 250 mg/kg given orally for antifibrotic and antioxidant effects in rats given the selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline (5 mg/kg s.c.) for 28 days. Captopril (50 mg/kg per day, given orally), an inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme used as a standard cardioprotective drug, was used as a positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isoprenaline caused fibrosis, increased oxidative stress and cardiac hypertrophy (increased heart weight : body weight ratio and cardiomyocyte diameter). The T. arjuna bark extract and captopril significantly prevented the isoprenaline-induced increase in oxidative stress and decline in endogenous antioxidant level. Both also prevented fibrosis but not the increase in heart weight : body weight ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T. arjuna protects against myocardial changes induced by chronic beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enjamoori
authors.forename: Amardeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaiswal
authors.forename: Ruma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Subir Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Maulik
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002216:Captopril / Q000494:pharmacology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000188:drug therapy; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029766:Terminalia
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002216:Captopril; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D007545:Isoproterenol