Abstract
Background: Recently, there has been increased interest in medicinal plants for the discovery of new compounds to treat various disorders. A few studies have highlighted the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Lepidium draba. Objectives: This study explores the potential cardioprotective effects of L. draba against myocardial infarction (MI) induced by isoproterenol. Methods: Isoproterenol (ISO) (100 mg/kg, injected subcutaneously for two consecutive days) was utilized to induce acute myocardial infarction in rats. The treated groups were administered hydroalcoholic extracts of L. draba intraperitoneally (ip) at doses of 50, 250, and 500 mg/kg for 2 consecutive days. Subsequently, the Electrocardiogram pattern, cardiodynamic parameters, cardiac remodeling, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were assessed. Results: The findings revealed that isoproterenol administration elevated the ST-segment and diminished the R-amplitude on the electrocardiogram, whereas treatment with L. draba extracts significantly ameliorated the ECG pattern. Isoproterenol injections lowered the mean arterial pressure (MAP), which was significantly increased by L. draba extract at all doses (P < 0.05). Furthermore, isoproterenol injections elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (P < 0.05) and cardiac fibrosis (P < 0.001), and treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of L. draba significantly reduced both indices (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that L. draba administration protects myocardial tissue from isoproterenol-induced infarction. Consequently, this plant could be recommended as an adjunct treatment for patients with acute MI.