Anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects of zingerone in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction continues to be a major public health problem. Reduction in mortality rate and prevention of myocardial infarction are of utmost importance. Inflammation and thrombosis play an important role in the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction. The anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects of zingerone were evaluated in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats. Rats were pretreated with zingerone (6mg/kg body weight) daily for 14 days and were then induced myocardial infarction with isoproterenol (100mg/kg body weight) on 15th and 16th day. Isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats showed significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels/ activities of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), high sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs CRP), lysosomal hydrolases in the serum and concentration of heart lysosomal lipid peroxidation (LPO) products. RT-PCR study revealed over expression of myocardial tumour necrosis factor - alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) genes in the myocardial infarcted rats. Histopathology of heart and coronary artery revealed marked inflammation and coronary thrombosis. Zingerone pretreatment significantly (P<0.05) decreased serum cTnI, Hs CRP, lysosomal hydrolases and heart lysosomal LPO and down regulated myocardial TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 genes and prevented coronary thrombosis in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted rats. The observed effects of zingerone could be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties.