The protective effects of Gentianella acuta against endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced myocardial apoptosis in a rat model of ischemic heart failure

Abstract

Abstract Gentianella acuta (Michx.) Hulten (G. acuta) has been widely used in Mongolian medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Ewenki and Oroqen, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, China. The current exploration was developed to scrutinize the impact of G. acuta on proteins associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in a rat model of ischemic heart failure. Echocardiography was employed for analyzing cardiac function, and both weight gain and serum indices were monitored in study subjects. In addition, heart tissue samples were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Sirian red staining. ER stress- and apoptosis-related protein expression was additionally evaluated via Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Together, these analyses revealed that G. acuta was able to alleviate cardiac dysfunction, collagen deposition, and myocardial injury, ameliorating ER stress and protecting the myocardium through anti-apoptotic pathways.