Abstract 448: Protective Role of Crataegus Oxycantha in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Activating Angiogenesis

Abstract

Rationale: Resuscitation of infarcted myocardium during ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injury is challenging process due to intrinsic complex mechanism. Reperfusion or revascularization is the best therapy to limit amount of infarction. Objectives: The current study was to explore the protective role of ethanolic extract of Crataegus oxycantha (COC) in myocardial I/R injury and to find its effect on angiogenesis. Methods and Results: Male guinea pigs were randomized into four groups control (con; n=6), high fat diet (hfd; n=6), high fat diet + drug (hfd+coc; n=6) and drug (coc; n=6). Myocardial I/R injury was induced by creating ischemia for 30 minutes through left anterior descending artery ligation followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Electrocardiogram analysis showed delayed RR interval and qrs complex in hfd group compared to hfd+coc; whereas, echocardiogram confirmed the dilation of left ventricle. LVIDs was increased in hfd compared to hfd+coc (0.40±0.13 cm vs 0.31±0.12cm; p<0.05) and IVSd: hfd 0.19±0.12cm vs hfd+coc 0.14±0.08 cm (p<0.05). Histopatology of left ventricle showed increased cellular death in hfd animals compared to hfd+coc and reduced intima-media thickness in aorta was seen in hfd±coc. Immunofluorescent analysis of ICAM showed decreased expression levels in hfd+coc group compared to hfd. Immunoblot of whole infarcted left ventricular lysate showed upregulation of EGF and VEGF in hfd+coc showed increased angiogenesis thereby protecting infracted myocardium. Conclusion: Treatment of hfd animals with ethanolic extract of Crataegus oxycantha (COC) during I/R injury improved cardiac function and myocardial viability by activating angiogenesis upon upregulation of VEGF and EGF expression levels in acute phase of injury.