ABSTRACT
The Vitis vinifera (VV) and Zingiber zerumbet (ZZ) are popular functional foods which are used for the treatment of cardiovascular ailments. These possess antiproliferative, antiplatelet and antioxidant effects. The current study has been designed to ascertain their effectiveness against Isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI). Chronic administration of VV and ZZ was accessed for its cardio-protective effect in ISO-induced MI rats. Male albino rats were treated with VV (250 mg/kg, p.o.), ZZ (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and its combination (Vitis vinifera + Zingiber zerumbet) VZ for 30 days prior to ISO administration (85 mg/kg, S/C). Electrocardiography (ECG) and Blood Pressure (BP) were measured using PowerLab data acquisition system. Biochemical serum markers, tissue histopathology and HPLC finger printing were performed. The VV, ZZ and its combination VZ showed significant protective effects on ST segment elevation, cardiac biomarkers; Troponin I (Trop I), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), enhanced the cardiac antioxidant defense system, restored the hematological (WBCs, RBCs, Platelets) & coagulation parameters and improved the lipid profile and histopathological alterations such as tissue necrosis, infiltration and edema which were observed only in ISO administered rats. These results indicate that V. vinifera and Z. zerumbet possess cardio protective effects possibly mediated through maintenance of endogenous antioxidant levels, cardiac biomarkers and lipid parameters.