Abstract
This study evaluated the cardioprotective effect of Cheilocostus speciosus (J. Köenig) C. Specht. (Syn, Costus speciosus (Köenig ex Retz. Sm.) (Family Costaceae) during isoproterenol induced cardiac toxicity in rats. A methanolic extract of the rhizomes was prepared by maceration. Rats were administered the methanolic extract at two different doses of 200 mg/kg or 400 mg/kg orally and captopril (30 mg/kg) was used as standard drug. All the drugs were once daily for two weeks. At the end of treatment, two doses of isoproterenol (150 mg/kg, s.c) were administered to rats. Blood was withdrawn to estimate creatinine kinase-MB (CKMB) activities. The heart tissue was subjected to histological examinations to determine the extent of damage. Administration of isoproterenol to control animals causes an elevation in serum CK-MB activity and the damage to myocardium was supported by histological examinations. C. speciosus at both doses prevented the increase in the biomarker activity as well as reduced the myocardial damage as observed in histological examination. However, it was relatively less effective compared to captopril in preventing the myocardial damage. C. speciosus showed dose-dependent cardioprotection and effectively prevented the myocardial dysfunction during isoproterenol induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
