Nagaraju B et al / International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2016; 7(4): 181-186. 181 IJBAR (2016) 07 (04) www.ssjournals.com International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research ISSN: 2229-3809 (Online); 2455-0558 (Print) Journal DOI: 10.7439/ijbar CODEN: IJBABN Original Research Article Evaluation of cardioprotective activity of Ethanolic extract of dried leaves of Cinnamomum tamala in rats B. Nagaraju * , S. Vidhyadhara, Ch. Aruna Kumar,S. Vikas, and D.Suryanarayana raju Department of Pharmacology, Chebrolu Hanumaiah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandramoulipuram, Chowdavaram, Guntur -522019, Andhra Pradesh, India. *Correspondence Info: Nagaraju Bandaru Lecturer, Chebrolu Hanumaiah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chandramoulipuram, Chowdavaram, Guntur -522019, Andhra Pradesh, India. E-mail: bnrajupharma@gmail.com Abstract The present study was designed to scientifically evaluate the cardio protective potential of Ethanolic Extract of dried leaves of Cinnamomum tamala (Family: Lauraceae) (EECT), against doxorubicin induced myocardial infarction in Wistar albino rats. Myocardial infarction was produced in rats with 15mg/kg of doxorubicin administered intraperitoneally (i.p), in six divided doses for two weeks. Effect of oral treatment of EECT at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight), both in prophylactically and curatively manner was evaluated against doxorubicin (15mg/kg, i.p) induced myocardial infarction. Levels of marker enzymes- Creatinine Phospho Kinase (CPK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Alanine Amino Transferase (ALT) and Aspartate Amino Transferase (AST) were estimated in both the serum and heart tissues; antioxidant parameters viz., catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed in heart homogenate. Doxorubicin significantly increases the serum levels of marker enzymes and reduction of endogenous antioxidants when compared with normal rats. EECT elicited a significant cardio protective activity by lowering the levels of serum marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation and elevated the levels of catalase. The study confirms the cardioprotective potential of EECT against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Keywords: Cardio protective, lipid peroxide, doxorubicin, marker enzymes, Cinnamomum tamala 1. Introduction Epidemiological studies predict an ominous prevalence of cardio vascular diseases globally as well as in India during next decade. Myocardial infarction, a highly prevalent ischemic condition characterized by tissue necrosis develops essentially due to an imbalance between oxygen need and actual supply and results in irreversible histopathological damages and subsequent cardiovascular complications. [1] The clinical use of doxorubicin (DOX, Adriamycin®), a broad spectrum chemotherapeutic agent, is limited by its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which leads to congestive heart failure and death. DOX-induced acute cardiotoxicity may begin with the initiation of chemotherapy and may resolve [2], whereas the chronic cardiotoxicity develops anytime after completion of DOX regimens and occurs in patients given cumulative dose of ≥500 mg DOX/m 2 . The precise mechanism of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity is incompletely understood. According to the widely recognized hypothesis, DOX undergoes redox cycling by mitochondrial complex I and NADH dehydrogenase, leading to oxidative stress, membrane lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered cardiac gene expression altogether leading to cardio myocyte death. [3] Spices are dried parts of herbs used as flavouring agents in cooking in oriental countries owing to their taste and aroma. Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum tamala Nees.) is one among them. The dried leaf of this plant is a spice commonly used in Indian homes for seasoning. It belongs to the family Lauraceae and is indigenous to the Asian minor and southern Europe.[4] Until now, the antidiabetic activity, anti-bacterial activity, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial, anti- inflammatory activity, anti-diarrhoeal activity and antihyperlipidemic activity of CT extracts have been evaluated. Based on this information present study was designed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Cinnamomum tamala Nees. leaves.[5] 2. Material and Methods 2.1 Plant material The dried leaves of Cinnamomum tamala were purchased from the local market. The leaves were