Up-regulation of chemokine receptor type 4 expression in the ischemic reperfused heart by alcoholic extract of Cichorium intybus rescue the heart from ischemia injury in male rat

Objectives: Cichorium intybus is used in traditional medicine for various diseases including heart disease. This study aimed at evaluating the chemokine receptor type 4 up-regulation and cardioprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of C. intybus in a rat model of ischemic reperfusion. Methods: Animals in four groups of eight rats each received vehicle or one of three doses of C. intybus (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/d) for 14 days. Then they were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 7 days of reperfusion. At the end of the experiment, blood specimens were prepared for serum assays. The level of myocardium chemokine receptor type 4 was also measured using RT-PCR. Key findings: Cichorium intybus (CI-50) improved infarct size, episodes of the ventricular ectopic beat, ventricular tachycardia, and duration of ventricular tachycardia, QTc shortening. It also stabilized the ST segment changes and increased heart rate during ischemia. The blood pressure decreased in CI-50 group in comparison to the control and CI-200 group. C. intybus increased serum superoxide dismutase and reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity, Cardiac Troponin I and malondialdehyde levels. C. intybus led to an increase in the expression of chemokine receptor type 4. Conclusions: These findings suggest that C. intybus administration before ischemia is able to induce cardioprotective effect against ischemic reperfusion injury, probably through chemokine receptor type 4 over-expression and antioxidant activity.

Automated summary

The study found that Cichorium intybus can improve infarct size, episodes of ventricular ectopic beats, ventricular tachycardia, duration of ventricular tachycardia, and shorten QTc. It also stabilizes ST segment changes and increases heart rate during ischemia. Compared to the control and CI-200 group, blood pressure decreased in the CI-50 group. C. intybus increased serum superoxide dismutase, reduced lactate dehydrogenase activity, cardiac troponin I, and malondialdehyde levels. C. intybus also led to an increase in the expression of chemokine receptor type 4.