ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Gongronema latifolium leaf extract protects against dexamethasone-induced myocardial cell injury via cardiac oxido-inflammatory molecules modulation
Idara Asuquo Okon,
Justin Atiang Beshel,
Victor Udo Nna,
Daniel Udofia Owu,
Idara Asuquo Okon
Department of Physiology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorJustin Atiang Beshel
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorVictor Udo Nna
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Daniel Udofia Owu
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Correspondence
Daniel Udofia Owu, Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorIdara Asuquo Okon,
Justin Atiang Beshel,
Victor Udo Nna,
Daniel Udofia Owu,
Idara Asuquo Okon
Department of Physiology, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorJustin Atiang Beshel
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorVictor Udo Nna
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Daniel Udofia Owu
Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Correspondence
Daniel Udofia Owu, Department of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of inflammatory disorders can result in myocardial injury. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Gongronema latifolium (GL) in dexamethasone (DEX)-induced myocardial injury. Wistar rats were assigned to 4 groups (n = 6) namely, control, GL, DEX, and DEX+GL groups. DEX (35 μg/kg body weight) was administered subcutaneously to induce myocardial injury, while GL leaf extract (200 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally. Both agents were administered to their respective groups for 14 days. DEX (p < .05) decreased nitric oxide and increased angiotensin-converting enzyme activity compared with the control. Serum superoxide dismutase activity and bilirubin level were decreased (p < .05), while malondialdehyde level was increased (p < .05) in the DEX group. Serum liver enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6), and cardiac injury biomarkers (creatinine kinase, cardiac troponin-T, and lactate dehydrogenase) were significantly (p < .05) increased in the DEX group relative to the control. Administration of GL leaf extract attenuated these changes significantly. The study therefore suggests that GL is beneficial in the treatment of myocardial injury via the downregulation of high serum concentration of cardiac biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory biomarkers released as a result of the insult caused by glucocorticoid administration.
Practical applications
- In this study, we demonstrated that prolonged use of dexamethasone resulted in myocardial cell injury via increased production of reactive oxygen species, inflammatory biomarkers, and inhibition of nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator.
- The leaves extract of Gongronema latifolium elicits the anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective potential as an efficient inhibitor of free radicals with good antioxidant properties.
- The study provides scientific evidence of the therapeutic ability of the extract of G. latifolium in the treatment of DEX-induced myocardial injury and could be a drug candidate for the treatment of myocardial injury and inflammation in humans.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest for this article.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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