Purpose: To investigate the potential activity of
Bombyx mori
and its formulations against isoproterenol
(ISO) induced cardiotoxicity.
Methods: Wistar rats were orally pretreated with the ethanol extract of
Bombyx mori cocoons in two
doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) for 30 days; rats were similarly pretreated with its polyherbal formulations
incorporating Khamira Abresham sada (KAS) and Khamira Abresham Hakim Arshadwala (KAHAW)
(800 mg/kg), standard drug metoprolol (10 mg/kg) and normal saline for 30 days. Cardiotoxicity was
induced by administration of isoproterenol (ISO, 85 mg/kg, subcutaneous) given twice on days 29 and
30 in all six pre-treated groups (n = 6) except the normal control. Cardiotoxicity was assessed by
morphological and biochemical evaluation and further confirmed by histopathological studies.
Results: Pretreatment with
Bombyx mori (500 mg/kg), KAHAW and KAS significantly decreased (p <
0.01) the heart weight:body weight (HW:BW) ratio; significantly decreases the elevated activities of the
cardiac marker enzymes, namely, asparate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.01), alanine transaminase (ALT)
(p < 0.01), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p < 0.01) ,creatinine kinase (CK-MB) (p < 0.01) and
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (p < 0.01) similar to the standard drug metoprolol (p <
0.01) in ISO-injected rats. Pre-treatment of rats with
Bombyx mori (500 mg/kg), KAS, KAHAW and
metoprolol challenged with ISO also showed absence of troponin. Pretreatment with
B. mori (500
mg/kg), KAHAW and KAS significantly increased the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p <
0.01), Tissue glutathione (GSH) (p < 0.01) and catalase (p < 0.01) similar to the standard drug
metoprolol (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that
Bombyx mori as well as its polyherbal formulations
exerts potent cardioprotection against isoproterenol-induced cardiotoxicity. This effect is comparable
with that of metoprolol.
