Cardioprotective effect of Nelumbo nucifera on mitochondrial lipid peroxides, enzymes and electrolytes against isoproterenol induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats

To explore the protective effect of Nelumbo nucifera leaf extract (NNE) on the levels of mitochondrial lipid peroxides, activities of TCA cycle and respiratory chain enzymes and electrolytes in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Oral pretreatment with NNE to ISO-induced rats for a period of 21 days, then heart mitochondria were isolated for the estimation of various biochemical parameters. Rats induced with ISO showed significant increase in mitochondrial lipid peroxides with subsequent decrease in TCA cycle enzymes such as isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH) and respiratory chain enzymes like NADH-dehydrogenase and cytochrome-c-oxidase. In addition, the levels of sodium and calcium increased and potassium decreased. Oral pretreatment with NNE to ISO-induced rats for a period of 21 days significantly reverted these biochemical parameters to near normal status. Thus, our study suggests that NNE treatment restore energy status of the mitochondria, thereby maintaining near normal function.