Cardioprotective Effect of Dichloromethane Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis) Extract on Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Cardiac Injuries in Rats

Background: ) with strong antioxidant activity that is effective for numerous cardiovascular diseases. Objective: extract on ischemia-reperfusion-induced cardiac injuries in male rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats were subjected to ischemia for 40 minutes and reperfusion for five days. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 each; group 1 (control) was given normal saline, and groups 2-4 were gavaged with 0.2, 0.1, 0.05 mg/kg of valepotriate extract, respectively, and received extract (0.2 mg/kg ip) two weeks before ischemia induction. Results: (valepotriate) extract exerted a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion-induced injuries. So that infarct size and number of ventricular arrhythmia and ventricular escape beats decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, ST segment amplitude, QTC interval, and heart rate decreased in the injured hearts and serum levels of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase increased. Biochemical markers malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase also decreased on day 5 after the onset of reperfusion. Conclusion: extract may have a protective effect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion by producing antioxidant effects.