*Correspondence: E-mail: amanrx@yahoo.com JIHS The Journal of Integrated Health Sciences Available online at www.jihs.in Protective effects of Pomegranate on electrocardiographic, Biochemical and histoarchitectural changes in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. Aman Upaganlawar 1* , Ramachandran Balaraman 2 1 Associate Professor,Department of Pharmacology, SSDJ’s College of Pharmacy, Neminagar, Chandwar -423101, Nashik 2 Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat, India ABSTRACT Aims: This study is aimed to investigate the protective effects of Pomegranate fruit extract on ECG, biochemical and histoarchitectural changes in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction in rats. Materials and Methods: Male albino rats were treated with Pomegranate fruit extracts (100 mg/kg/day, p.o) for a period of 30 days. ISO (200 mg/kg, s.c) was injected to rats on 29 th and 30 th day at an interval of 24 h to produce myocardial infarction. On day 31 st electrocardiographic, biochemical, histoarchitectural and apoptotic changes were monitored from control and experimental groups. Results: ISO injected rats showed a significant alteration in ECG pattern. The levels of cardiac and inflammatory markers such as Lactate dehydrogenase and creatine phosphokinase-MB were significantly increased. A significant alteration in lipid peroxidation and biomarkers of oxidative stress (GSH, SOD and CAT) were observed. In addition, it also showed significant alteration in collagen content (Masson’s Trichrome staining) and glycogen content (Periodic acid Schiff’s staining) of the heart. Treatment with Pomegranate fruit extract (PGFE) significantly reduced ISO induced alteration in ECG, biochemical and histoarchitectural changes. Conclusions: In conclusion the present study showed that treatment of PGFE significantly attenuates myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol. Key Words: Pomegranates, Isoproterenol, Caspase-3, DNA fragmentation INTRODUCTION Myocardial infarction (MI) occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted, causing death of heart tissue. 1 . Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are primarily caused by chronic deficiencies of vitamins and other essential nutrients with distinct biochemical properties such as coenzymes, cellular energy carriers and antioxidants. Many dietary antioxidants, neutraceuticals and some non-nutrient based antioxidants from plants are increasingly being recognized as potential health promoters in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis 2 . Isoproterenol (ISO), a beta adrenergic agonist, induce MI and has been shown to be accompanied by hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, increased in cardiac marker enzymes, hemodynamic changes, biochemical alterations and generation of oxidative stress 3,4 . Pomegranate (Punicagranatum) has been shown to scavenge free radicals and decrease macrophage oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in animals and increase plasma antioxidant capacity in elderly humans. The beneficial constituents in pomegranate are ellagic acid, ellagitannins, punicic acid, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and estrogenic flavonols and flavones 5 The effects of PGFE has not been studied extensively on ISO induced MI. Hence, these facts motivate us to study the effect of PGFE on some changes in ISO -induced myocardial infarction in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Drugs and chemicals (±)-Isoproterenol hydrochloride (ISO) was purchase from Sigma Aldrich Co. St. Louis. MO. USA. Alcoholic extract of Pomegranate fruit extract with certificate of analysis was gifted by Original Article The Journal of Integrated Health Sciences | Vol I | Issue I |June 2013 20