PROTECTIVE ROLE OF FENUGREEK ON ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of fenugreek on isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction in experimental rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n=6). Group 1 rats served as control. Group 2 rats received isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 14^th and 15^th days. Group 3 rats received fenugreek (250 mg/kg body weight) via intragastric intubation for 15 days. Group 4 rats received fenugreek as in group 3 and additionally isoproterenol was given for 14^th and 15^th days. ISO induced myocardial infarction was confirmed by disturbances in serum and heart tissue marker enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), increased levels of serum lipoproteins like VLDL, LDL and decrease in HDL, increased levels of serum lipid metabolism like triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), and cholesterol (CHO). In rats pretreated with fenugreek, the level of marker enzymes, lipoproteins and the activity of lipid metabolisms like TG, FFA and CHO were maintained at near normal values. Pretreatment with fenugreek offered a protective effect against ISO induced myocardial damage in rats as evidenced by comparing with control rats. These salubrious effect observed in this study might be due to the membrane stabilizing potential of fenugreek on ISO induced myocardial infarction in rats.