Effect of hydroethanolic extract of Piper betle in isoproterenol induced cardiac hypertrophy

Abstract

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is a condition in which myocardial mass is increased beyond the normal range due to irreversible fibrotic events that lead to various complication like ventricular chamber dilation, thinning of the internal walls and extensive myocardial damage. In this study, the cardioprotective potential of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Piper betle  (P. betle) was evaluated against cardiac hypertrophy induced by isoproterenol in male albino Wistar rats. Isoproterenol (10 mg/kg b.w., i.p., 7 days) induced cardiac hypertrophy in experimental rats which were simultaneously treated with the standard drug losartan (50 mg/ kg b.w., oral., 7 days) and hydro-ethanolic extract of P. betle (200 mg/kg b.w., oral., 7 days). Biochemical estimations revealed increased levels of glucose, protein, albumin, lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides), urea, creatinine, cardiac maker enzymes (SGOT; SGPT and LDH), reduced enzymic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx) and serum were observed during CH which were reciprocated to normal when treated with plant extract. Histopathological analysis of the heart tissue (left ventricles) showed repairment of cellular architecture with reduced stiffened cell layers and necrosis in plant extract administered rats thereby indicating the anti-hypertrophic potential of P. betle.