Asiaticoside is a natural triterpene compound derived from Centella asiatica, possessing confirmed cardioprotective property. However, the roles of asiaticoside in regulating oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)‐caused cardiomyocyte dysfunction remain largely obscure. Human cardiomyocyte AC16 cells were stimulated with OGD/R to mimic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and treated with asiaticoside. Cytotoxicity was investigated by CCK‐8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release analysis. Autophagy‐ and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling‐related protein levels were measured via western blotting. Asiaticoside (0–20 μM) did not induce cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity. Asiaticoside (20 μM) mitigated OGD/R‐induced autophagy, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and myocardial injury. Rapamycin, an autophagy inductor, reversed the influences of asiaticoside on autophagy, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and myocardial injury, whereas 3‐methyadanine, an autophagy inhibitor, played an opposite effect. Asiaticoside (20 μM) attenuated OGD/R‐induced Wnt/β‐catenin signaling inactivation, which was reversed after transfection with si‐β‐catenin. Transfection with si‐β‐catenin attenuated the influences of asiaticoside on autophagy, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and myocardial injury. In conclusion, asiaticoside protected against OGD/R‐induced cardiomyocyte cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and myocardial injury via blunting autophagy through activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling, indicating the therapeutic potential of asiaticoside in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

This research aimed to describe the functions of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in protecting target organs and the anti-atherosclerotic effects of different enantiomers of amlodipine on a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups (nA = 9, nB = 7, nC = 7, and nD = 7 rabbits): rabbits in group-A (control group) were fed a high-fat diet, group-B rabbits were fed a high-fat diet plus 2.5 mg/kg/day S-amlodipine, group-C rabbits were fed a high-fat diet plus 2.5 mg/kg/day R-amlodipine, and group-D rabbits were fed a high-fat diet plus 5 mg/kg/day racemic amlodipine. Different enantiomers of amlodipine did not influence lipid profiles and serum level of eNOS in the rabbit atherosclerosis model but decreased ET-1 expression to some extent. The serum NO and iNOS levels in the drug intervention groups were significantly reduced. No significant differences in the rabbits’ body weights were observed. At the 4th and 8th weeks, the serum lipid profiles significantly increased in high cholesterol diet groups. The serum ET-1 level was significantly increased in each group of rabbits at the 8th week. Both S-amlodipine and R-amlodipine may protect the endothelium by reducing the serum ET-1 level, downregulating iNOS expression.