CARDIO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF CYPERUS ROTUNDUS RHIZOME ON ISOPROTERENOL-INDUCED MYOCARDIAL NECROSIS IN RATS

The study was designed to scientifically evaluate the effect of alchoholic extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizomes, a traditional medicinal herb, on isoproterenol-induce myocardial necrosis in rats model. The albino wistar rats were divided into five different groups with six animal in each group. Group I serves as a control group, group II were given isoproterenol (85 mg/kg s.c) for 2 days while Group III was treated with metoprolol (10 mg/kg) for 28 days and isoproterenol on last 2 days. This group serves as standard group and its effect was used for comparison with that of test drug (Cyperus rotundus extract). Group IV and V were given Cyperus rotundus rhizome extract (300 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg respectively) for 28 days and isoproterenol on last 29^th and 30^th day. The level of enzymes transaminases (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Cretinine kinase (CK) were estimated in serum and the extent of necrosis was studied by grading. Isoproterenol significantly increased the activities of CK, LDH and the transaminases in serum. Pretreatment with the alchoholic extract of Cyperus rotundus had a significant effect on the activities of marker enzymes compared to the other groups. The effect was compared with the effect on marker enzymes in the group treated with Metaprolol. The metaprolol treated group shows reduced level of marker enzymes, nearer to the control group. The pretreatment with Cyperus rotundus extract at the dose 300 mg/kg shows more significant reduction then at the dose of 150 mg/kg. The study confirms the protective effects of Cyperus rotundus rhizome extract against isoproterenol-induced biochemical alterations in rats.