Cardioprotective Effects of the Aqueous Leaf Extract of Asystasia vogeliana via Modulation of VCAM-1 and p53 in Anemia-Induced Rats

This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of Asystasia vogeliana (AV) aqueous leaf extract on the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and the tumor suppressor protein p53 in the cardiac tissue of rats rendered anemic with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH). Forty rats were randomly assigned to five groups: a normal control group, a DNPH-induced group without treatment, two DNPH-induced groups receiving AV extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, and a DNPH-induced group treated with 200 mg/kg of vitamin B12 as a standard reference. All treatments lasted for 29 days. At the conclusion of the study, the animals were sacrificed, and their heart tissues were harvested for biochemical and molecular assessments. Serum lipid profiles and expression levels of VCAM and p53 proteins were assessed. The results showed that AV-treated anemic rats exhibited significant improvements in lipid parameters and a marked downregulation of VCAM and p53 expression compared to untreated anemic rats (p < 0.05). Additionally, a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines associated with cardiac injury was observed. These findings suggest that A. vogeliana aqueous extract may have cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in anemia-induced cardiac damage. Further investigations are warranted to fully elucidate its mechanisms and therapeutic potential.