Preventive Effects of (-) Epicatechin on Altered Adenosine Triphosphatases and Minerals in Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Infarcted Rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of (-) epicatechin on alterations in the activities/levels of adenosine triphosphatases and minerals in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. Male albino Wistar rats were pretreated with (-) epicatechin (20 mg/kg body weight) daily for a period of 21 days. After the pretreatment period, rats were induced myocardial infarction by isoproterenol (100 mg/kg body weight) on 22nd and 23rd day. The activity of sodium/potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase was decreased, and the activities of calcium- and magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatases were increased in the heart of isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarcted rats. In addition, the concentrations of potassium were decreased and the concentrations of sodium and calcium were increased in the heart of isoproterenol-induced rats. Elevated plasma lipid peroxidation was noted in isoproterenol-induced rats. Prior treatment with (-) epicatechin significantly prevented the alterations in the activities and concentrations of adenosine triphosphatases, minerals, and plasma lipid peroxidation. The in vitro study confirmed the reducing property of (-) epicatechin. The observed effects in this study are attributed to the membrane-stabilizing and antioxidant properties of (-) epicatechin. The findings of this study will be beneficial to prevent the occurrence of myocardial infarction. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26: 516-521, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI10.1002/jbt.21461