Evaluation of Cardioprotective Activity of <i>Corchorus aestuans</i> L. Leaves

Background: The effectiveness of several medicinal herbs with antioxidant qualities in MI has been assessed and demonstrated. Corchorus aestuans L. is one such medicinal plant that has been shown to have hypocholesteremic and antioxidant properties. C. aestuans L. is also well-known for its bitter tonic, cardiotonic, and stomach relieving properties. Aim: In order to assess the impact of C. aestuans methanol extract against ISO-induced changes in myocardial enzymes, antioxidant status, and cardiac pathology in experimentally induced myocardial infarction, this study was conducted. Methods: Male wistar albino rats were used to create an Isoproterenol (ISO) induced Myocardial Infarction (MI) in order to study the possible cardiovascular preventative effects of the methanol extract of the medicinal plant C. aestuans. Six groups of eight animals each were created from the 180-250 g range of animals, and during the study, the animals in groups one (normal control) and two (model control) were given distilled water. Group three received ascorbic acid (250 mg/kg), while groups four to six received methanol extract of C. aestuans (MECA; 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg, respectively) once a day for 28 days. Animals in group’s two to six received the first dosage of ISO (100 mg/kg, S.C.) on day 27 and the second dose 24 hours later. Rats were anesthetized using chloroform, then their hearts were isolated and serum was collected. Twelve hours following the second large dose, the rats anesthetized, killed, and samples of their hearts and serum were taken. After the heart was cleaned with ice-cold saline, it was weighed. A histology study was conducted on heart tissue, while biochemical markers were analyzed in serum and heart homogenate. Results: When isoproterenol was administered, the concentrations of CK-MB (Creatinine Kinase - Myocardial Band), LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase), and NA+ (Sodium) increased dramatically, but the concentrations of K+ (Potassium) and MDA (Malondialdehyde) dropped. The incidence of these alterations was dramatically decreased by ascorbic acid and MECA (Methanol extract of C. aestuans) treatment. Consequently, the cardioprotective effect can be explained by decreased levels of cardiac marker enzymes. Conclusion: MECA (50 mg / kg, 100 mg / kg and 150 mg /kg p.o. once for 28 days) attenuated serum enzymes and marker, increased tissue calcium and sodium levels, decreased potassium levels, and inhibited lipid peroxidation to significantly counteract the effect of experimentally induced MI.