Phytochemical Analysis and Protective Effect of <i>Desmodium gyrans</i> DC in Doxorubicin‐induced Cardiomyopathy and Isoproterenol‐induced Myocardial Infarction

Desmodium gyrans DC (Fabaceae) has been widely used in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine as a cardiotonic and for wound healing. There is not much scientific literature supporting the medicinal use of the plant. The present study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of the methanolic extract of D. gyrans in rats. The objective of the study is to validate the use of the plant in traditional medicine. The cardioprotective effect of this plant was studied in Sprague Dawley rats by separately inducing cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction using doxorubicin (DOX) and isoproterenol (ISO), respectively. Variations in serum cardiac markers, antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation levels in cardiac tissue were analyzed. Antioxidant status was also studied in the cardiac mitochondrial fraction. A histopathological examination of heart tissue was done. The results indicated a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation products with a concomitant reduction in the tissue antioxidant enzymes activities (SOD and GPx) and glutathione levels in DOX and ISO alone treated rats. However, treatment of the rats with D. gyrans restored the redox balance in the cardiac tissues of these rats. Overall, the results showed that the methanolic extract of D. gyrans has significant protective activity against ISO-induced myocardial infarction and moderate protection against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy.