Biochemical effects of cranberry extract in experimentally induced myocardial necrosis in rats

Hussien A. Ali1, Mohammed A. Hussein2, Mahmoud A. Barakat3

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of cranberry extract (75 and 150mg/kg.b.w.) against nicotine-induced heart toxicity in rats. Oral administration of nicotine (2.5mg/kg.b.w.) led to significant increase in plasma transaminases (L-alanine and L-aspartate), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine Kinase (CK), and TBARS as well as plasma total- and direct bilirubin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol. Also, treatment of rats with nicotine led to significant decrease in heart and plasma GSH, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) as well as heart transaminases (L-alanine and L-aspartate) and plasma HDL. The obtained result revealed that cranberry extract (75 and 150 mg/kg. b.w.) prevents heart damage through increasing of GSH, SOD and CAT activities and decrease significantly TBARs level. These results suggest that, cranberry may be effective in the protection of heart toxicity by its radical scavenging effect and antioxidant activity.

Key words

Nicotine, heart toxicity, cranberry, Antioxidant enzymes, lipid profile, GSH.