Glycyrrhiza glabra protects from myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by improving hemodynamic, biochemical, histopathological and ventricular function.

Present study evaluated the cardioprotective effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra against ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-R) induced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) in rats. Ligation of LADCA for 45 min followed by 60 min of reperfusion has induced significant (p<0.05) heart dysfunction evidenced by significant (p<0.05) decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), contractility; (+)LVdP/dtmax and relaxation; (-)LVdP/dtmax along with increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Ligation induced I-R injury also significantly (p<0.05) decreased myocyte injury enzymes, creatine phosphokinase-MB (CK-MB) isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Furthermore, I-R injury also induced lipid peroxidation evidenced by significant (p<0.05) increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and histological perturbations concomitant to depletion of glutathione (GSH) from heart. However, pretreatment with G. glabra significantly (p<0.05) prevented the depletion of the antioxidant enzymes; SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and myocyte injury marker enzymes; CK-MB isoenzyme and LDH. Pretreatment with G. glabra also prevented GSH depletion and inhibited lipid peroxidation in heart. In addition to improving biochemical indices of myocardial function, G. glabra also significantly (p<0.05) reinstated MAP, HR, (±)LVdP/dtmax and attenuated abrupt rise in LVEDP. Histopathological preservation evidenced by reduced infiltration of cells and myonecrosis depicted the myocardial salvaging effect of G. glabra. Taken together, results of the present study clearly suggest the cardioprotective potential of G. glabra against myocardial infarction by amelioration of oxidative stress and favorable modulation of cardiac function.