title: Cardioprotective Effects of Phenylethanoid Glycoside-rich Extract from Cistanche deserticola in Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to examine and confirm the cardioprotective effect and mechanism of phenylethanoid glycoside-rich extract of Cistanche deserticola (PhG-RE), a well-known natural antioxidant-based active constituents, against ischemia/reperfusion injury using both in vivo and in vitro approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided in to 3 groups as group 1: sham laparotomy, group 2: IR, and group 3: IR + PhG-RE group (0.25 mg/mL/min). Hearts were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 45 min of reperfusion. The myocardial infarct size and the activities of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. Myocardial tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were detected. Western blot analysis was carried out to determine the cardioprotective mechanisms of PhG-RE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hearts treated with PhG-RE showed a significant reduction in infarct size and decrease in CK-MB and LDH activities. PhG-RE also reduced MDA levels and elevated the activities of GSH-Px, SOD. The expressions of cytochrome-c were significantly reduced in the treated group. A significant upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2/Bax with simultaneous downregulation of cleaved-caspase-3 was observed. The molecular signaling cascade, including phospho-Akt (ser-473) and phospho-GSK3β that lead to the activation or suppression of apoptotic pathway, also showed a significant protective role in the treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that the PhG-RE may reduce the oxidative stress in the reperfused myocardium and play a significant role in the inhibition of apoptotic pathways leading to cardioprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Jilin University, Changchun, China; Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Jilin University, Changchun, China. Electronic address: caoxia8478@163.com.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D031671:Cistanche / Q000737:chemistry; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006027:Glycosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts