Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Nutmeg on Hyperglycaemia, Hyperlipidaemia and Cardiac Histology Associated with Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Mohammed Abdul Kareem , Gadhamsetty Saayi Krushna, Shaik Althaf Hussain, Kodidhela Lakshmi Devi

Department of Biochemistry, S.K. University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India-515003;

For correspondence:- Mohammed Kareem Email: dkarry.kareem@gmail.com Tel:9108554255879

Received: 14 November 2008 Accepted: 18 April 2009 Published: 14 August 2009

Citation: Kareem MA, Krushna GS, Hussain SA, Devi KL. Effect of Aqueous Extract of Nutmeg on Hyperglycaemia, Hyperlipidaemia and Cardiac Histology Associated with Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2009; 8(4):337-344 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v8i4.8

© 2009 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: The present study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities of the aqueous extract of nutmeg (i.e., the kernel of Myristica fragrans) in rat models against myocardial infarction (MI) induced by isoproterenol (ISO).

Methods: Rats were pretreated with nutmeg extract (NM) at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg/day for a period of 30 days, followed by the induction of MI by subcutaneous administration of ISO (85 mg/kg) for two consecutive days. The heart tissue was excised immediately, washed with chilled isotonic saline and used in histopathological studies. Blood was also collected from the animals and the plasma separated was subjected to biochemical analysis.

Results: In ISO-administered group, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of blood glucose, plasma lipids and lipoprotein lipase activity was observed along with hyalinization of muscle fibres, compared NM-pretreated ISO-administered rats. In rats treated with NM, biochemical parameters were near normal. Histological studies revealed reduced damage of heart tissue in ISO-administered rats that were pretreated with NM.

Conclusion: NM possesses protected rats against hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidaemia and cardiac tissue damage following MI. Therefore, NM should be further investigated as a prophylactic against the risk of MI.

Keywords: Isoproterenol; Myocardial infarction; Glucose; Lipids; Lipoprotein lipase; Nutmeg; Myristica fragrans