The potential effect of the green coffee extract on reducing atherogenic index in hyperlipidemic rats

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The high prevalence of dyslipidemia triggers the development of green coffee supplement products, which are claimed as cholesterol-lowering and slimming agents. Nonetheless, research data on the effect of taking green coffee supplement products, especially regarding cardiovascular function, is limited. Aims: To determine the potential effect of green coffee extract (GCE) on improving atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiac histopathology in hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: 24 rats were induced by high-fat feed for 21 days. Then, the rats were treated with a GCE, dose of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg bodyweight for 14 days. The next day, blood was collected from the rats to take measurements of their serum lipid profile and calculating their AIP. The heart organ was created by using histopathological preparations. Results: Administration of GCE in all doses significantly reduced the AIP and improved cardiac histopathology in the hyperlipidemic rats. Conclusions: GCE can be developed as a cardio-protector.

High-fructose diet initially promotes increased aortic wall thickness, liver steatosis, and cardiac histopathology deterioration, but does not increase body fat index

Background: Dietary fats and fructose have been responsible for inducing obesity and body tissues damage due to the consequence of metabolic syndrome through several mechanisms. The body fat index (BFI) is one of the anthropometric measures used to detect obesity in rats. This study aims to examine the correlation between high-fat high-fructose diet and liver steatosis cell count, early atherosclerosis characteristics, and BFI in Sprague Dawley Rats.Design and methods: This was an experimental design using 2 groups of 12-weeks-old Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The control group received a standard diet and tap water beverages for 17 weeks. The intervention group was fed with high-fat diet from modified AIN 93-M and additional 30% fructose drink. We analyzed the foam cell count, aortic wall thickness, cardiac histopathology, and liver steatosis cell count after the sacrifice process.Results: The rats in the intervention group had a higher aortic wall thickness, liver steatosis, and foam cell count (+125%, p<0.01; +317%, p<0.01 and +165%, p<0.01 respectively) compared to the control group. The intervention group also showed higher mononuclear inflammatory and hypertrophic cell count. A significant positive correlation was found between dietary fructose with premature atherosclerosis by increasing foam cell count (r=0.66) and aortic wall thickness (r=0.68). In addition, 30% dietary fructose increased liver steatosis (r =0.69) and mononuclear inflammatory cardiac cell count (r=0.61). Interestingly, the intervention had no effect on BFI (p>0.5; r=0.13).Conclusions: Dietary fat and fructose consumption for 17 weeks promote atherosclerosis, liver steatosis, and cardiac histopathology alteration without increasing BFI.

EFFECT OF SIMVASTATIN ON HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE HEART AFTER 5/6 SUBTOTAL NEPHRECTOMY

Objective: This study aims to assess the condition of cardiac histopathology through hematoxylin-eosin staining in 5/6 subtotal nephrectomyconditions.Methods: Fifteen male Swiss mice aged 3–5 months will be grouped into 3 treatment groups, namely the nephrectomy group (JSN, n=5), shamoperation (JSO, n=5), and simvastatin 20 mg/kg body weight (JSIM, n=5). The histopathology of the heart will be assessed blindly. Severity is assessedbased on scoring using a scale (−) no damage, (+) mild, (++) medium, and (+++) heavy. Assessment of severity refers to the irregularity of the heartmuscle, increased amount of connective tissue, myofibril hypertrophy, myofibril swelling, sarcoplasmic fragmentation, sarcoplasmic vacuolization,bleeding in a myofibril, myofibril degeneration, cardiomyocyte damage, and the presence of acidophilic cytoplasm.Results: The results showed no morphological changes in heart muscle tissue in the JSO group except for fragmentation and vacuolization in minimalamounts of sarcoplasm (+), whereas in the JSN and JSIM groups, there was moderate damage to sarcoplasm (++) and minimal changes in myofibrils(hypertrophy and bleeding) (+). The JSN group also found severe damage (+++) to the irregularity of the heart muscle, whereas in JSIM, only moderatedamage was found (++) to the irregularity of the heart muscle.Conclusion: Simvastatin seems to be able to correct the irregularity of the heart muscle in the condition of 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy.

Ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation by Hesperidin and vitamin E in doxorubicin induced cardiomyopathy

Background Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common chemotherapeutic drug. However, it causes cardiomyopathy which reduces its clinical use in human cancer therapy. Objective The purpose of our study was to assess the cardioprotective effect of hesperidin (HSP) and vitamin E (VIT.E) against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. Material and methods Seventy rats were allocated into seven groups: control, HSP (50 mg/kg, orally), VIT.E (100 mg/kg orally), DOX [4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)], DOX+HSP, DOX+VIT.E and DOX+HSP+VIT.E. Results Our findings showed that serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cardiac catalase and caspase activities as well as cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were reduced DOX+HSP or DOX+VIT.E or DOX+VIT.E+HSP groups compared to DOX group. Whereas, cardiac reduced glutathione (GSH) level, serum arylesterase, and paraoxonase activities were higher in rats injected with DOX and administrated with HSP and VIT.E than that of rats injected with DOX only. Cardiac histopathology of DOX group showed some changes that were improved during administration with HSP and VIT.E. Conclusion HSP and VIT.E possess a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy via inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Gambaran Histopatologi Organ Jantung Tikus Putih Jantan Galur Wistar (Rattus norvegicus) dalam Uji Toksisitas Akut Kombinasi Ekstrak Daun Jati Belanda (Guazuma ulmifolia Lmk.) dan Kelopak Bunga Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Jati belanda leaves (Guazuma ulmifolia Lmk.) and Roselle petals (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) have been known for their activity as antihyperlipidemia with different mechanisms. Combination of these plants was expected to has a synergy effect in reducing cholesterol. However, the toxicity of jati belanda leaves and roselle petals extract combination must be investigated for knowing its safety. Based on the acute toxicity test, the LD50 value of jati belanda leaves and roselle petals extract combination was >5,000 mg/kg bw. It was classified as category 5 or unclassified. This research aimed to study about its effect in cardiac by cardiac histopathology examinations of the rats. The result showed that there was no cardiac histopathology changes of the rats at doses 5,000 mg/kg bw. Keywords: jati belanda leaves, roselle petals, acute toxicity, cardiac histopathology

Potential Role of Carvedilol in the Cardiac Immune Response Induced by Experimental Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi causes a cardiac infection characterized by an inflammatory imbalance that could become the inciting factor of the illness. To this end, we evaluated the role of carvedilol, a beta-blocker with potential immunomodulatory properties, on the immune response in C57BL/6 mice infected with VL-10 strain of T. cruzi in the acute phase. Animals (n=40) were grouped: (i) not infected, (ii) infected, (iii) infected + carvedilol, and (iv) not infected + carvedilol. We analyzed parameters related to parasitemia, plasma levels of TNF, IL-10, and CCL2, and cardiac histopathology after the administration of carvedilol for 30 days. We did not observe differences in the maximum peaks of parasitemia in the day of their detection among the groups. The plasma TNF was elevated at 60 days of infection in mice treated or not with carvedilol. However, we observed a decreased CCL2 level and increased IL-10 levels in those infected animals treated with carvedilol, which impacted the reduction of the inflammatory infiltration in cardiac tissue. For this experimental model, carvedilol therapy was not able to alter the levels of circulating parasites but modulates the pattern of CCL2 and IL-10 mediators when the VL10 strain of T. cruzi was used in C57BL6 mice.

The Effect of Passive Opium Smoking on Cardiovascular Indices of Rabbits with Normal and Ischemic Hearts

Some Asian people believe that opium can protect the cardiovascular system. To assess this belief, we investigated the effect of passive opium smoking (POS) on cardiovascular indices in rabbits with ischemic and non-ischemic hearts. Rabbits (n = 43) were divided into control (CTL), short term opium (SO) and long term opium (LO) groups. SO and LO groups were exposed to opium smoking for 3 days and 4 weeks, respectively. ECG, blood pressure (BP), left ventricular pressure and cardiac troponin I levels were recorded. Isoproterenol (ISO) was injected to induce cardiac ischemia and after 4 h the above variables were measured along with cardiac histopathology assessment. All groups showed significant increments in troponin I level (P < 0.05) except the CTL group. This trend was more obvious in ISO-treated groups. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly decreased in all groups (p< 0.05) except the LO group. Opium exposure attenuated ISO-induced myodegeneration but augmented tissue congestion and hemorrhage. In conclusion, higher troponin I serum level and ECG changes were found in passive opium smoking groups. This evidence is against the belief that opium can protect the cardiovascular system.