Traditional Chinese medicine Qili qiangxin inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats following myocardial infarction

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Qili qiangxin on cardiomyocyte apoptosis following myocardial infarction (MI) in a rat model. MI was induced in rats by ligation of the anterior descending coronary artery. Survivors were randomly divided into the sham operation, MI, and Qili qiangxin groups (4 g/kg per day). After 28 days, infarction size was measured. In the non-infarcted zones (NIZ), the apoptotic index (AI) was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated digoxigenin-conjugated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Expression of Fas was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of xanthine oxidase (XO) and caspase-3 by western blot analysis. In addition, the XO and ·O2−, ·OH-scavenging activity of myocardial tissue in NIZ was measured by colorimetry. Compared to the MI group, AI and the expression of Fas and caspase-3 were significantly decreased in NIZ. The activity of XO was also considerably reduced while ·O2− and ·OH-scavenging activity was significantly increased in the Qili qiangxin group. Ventricular remodeling was attenuated but there were no significant differences in infarct size (IS) or XO expression levels between the Qili qiangxin and MI groups. In conclusion, the results suggest that Qili qiangxin may inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis in NIZ in rats. The potential mechanism involved may be associated with its ability to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to depress the expression of Fas and caspase-3.

An evaluation of the role of mixing techniques in the observed variation in acetylcysteine infusion concentrations

“…In the UK the British National Formulary recommends that patients be prescribed acetylcysteine at 150 mg kg −1 over 1 h, administered in 200 ml 5% glucose, then 50 mg kg −1 over 4 h, administered in 500 ml 5% glucose, then 100 mg kg −1 over 16 h, administered in 1 l 5% glucose . Weight‐based dosing tables are used, as per the UK Commission on Human Medicines recommendation , to reduce errors in dosing. In this series of experiments, the standard UK regime for a patient in the 60–69 kg weight category was used (Table ).…”

Traditional Chinese medicines in the management of cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive systematic review

“…They found that this significantly lowered SBP immediately following the procedure when compared with sham acupuncture, but blood pressure returned to baseline post-intervention. The components of commonly used TCMs for the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases are summarized in Table 2 [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29].…”

Qiliqiangxin protects against anoxic injury in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells via NRG‐1/ErbB‐PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

“…Even with early coronary reperfusion post‐ischaemic insult, a decreased microvascular perfusion and chronically impaired cardiac function might still occur because of microvascular damage . QL , a Chinese compound medicine, was shown to be effective in heart failure following either myocardial infarction or pressure overload . Our study displayed the pro‐angiogenic and anti‐apoptotic effects of QL on CMECs.…”

“…QL , a specific traditional Chinese medicine extracted from 11 distinct herbs including Radix astragali, Aconite Root, Ginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Semen lepidii apetali, Cortex Periplocae Sepii Radicis, Rhizoma Alismatis, Carthamus tinctorius, Polygonatum Odorati, Seasoned Orange Peel and Rumulus Ginnamomi, has been reported to inhibit cardiac remodelling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis after myocardial infarction . A multicenter randomized double‐blind parallel‐group placebo‐controlled study demonstrated that 12 weeks of QL treatment reduced the levels of N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐pro‐BNP) in 512 chronic heart failure patients .…”