Kalpaamruthaa ameliorates myocardial and aortic damage in cardiovascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Myocardial and aortic damage in cardiovascular complications (CVD) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the protective efficacy of Kalpaamruthaa (KA) are evaluated in this study. CVD developed in 8 weeks after type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced by the administration of a high-fat diet for 2 weeks, and then with streptozotocin (2 x 35 mg . (kg body mass)(-1), by intraperitonal injection, at 24 h intervals) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. CVD-induced rats were treated with KA at 200 mg . (kg body mass)(-1).(day)(-1) orally for 28 days. Increased oxidative stress in CVD-induced rats lowers antioxidant defense in the aorta. Treatment with KA reduced oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant status with decreased lipid peroxides in CVD-induced rats. Histological examination of the myocardium and aorta provided support for the cytoprotective effect of KA in CVD. Ultrastructural changes in the myocardium of CVD-induced rats were improved by KA treatment. Aortic damage was observed through decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase and increased NADPH oxidase mRNA expressions in CVD-induced rats. KA reduced the aortic damage by ameliorating these levels back to normal. KA treatment reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 in CVD-induced rats. Immunohistochemical expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 were observed to be elevated in the myocardium of CVD-induced rats, but these were decreased by the administration of KA. This study demonstrates the cardiovascular protective effect of KA in type 2 diabetes.