Influence of Hawthorn(Crataegus Oxyacantha)Leaves Extract Administration on Myocardial Infarction Induced by Isoproterenol in Rats.

Abstract

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been established to be one of the main causes of death and mortality especially in the developed countries. Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most lethal CVDs which is an irreversible andacute condition of myocardium necrosis caused by ischemia, which is a perfusion imbalance between demand and supply of blood to the heart via the coronary circulation. Isoproterenol (ISO), a synthetic catecholamine and β adrenergic agonist is documented to produce MI at supra-maximal doses due to the generation of highly cytotoxic free radicals and lipid peroxides through its auto-oxidation producing weakening of endogenous antioxidant system, contractile dysfunction, cardio-toxicity, and cardiac damage (infarct-like lesions) due to positive chronotropic and inotropic effects. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is one of the most commonly distributed herbs in the world which haslong been used in folk medicine in treating many CVDs e.g. MI and other diseases due to its high content of polyphenols, flavonoids and high antioxidant capacity. The present study was conducted to investigate the influence of ethanolic hawthorn leaves extract (EHLE) on alleviating and improving ISO induced- MI in adult male albino rats. Ethanolic hawthorn leaves extract had been analyzed for its total phenols, flavonoidsand total anti-oxidant capacity, in addition to the