Ameliorative effect of ethanolic Gymnema sylvestre extract on diabetic cardiomyopathy against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in Wistar rats

Background: Diabetes leads to a cardiomyopathy characterized by myocyte loss. Streptozotocin (STZ)‑induced diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by decreased left ventricular contractility and diminished ventricular compliance with marked abnormal systolic and diastolic function. Aim: The ameliorative effect of ethanolic Gymnema sylvestre extract (GSE) was evaluated in diabetic cardiomyopathy against STZ‑induced diabetes. Materials and Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous injection of (STZ, 45 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats. Blood pressure, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose apolipoprotein B and lipids as well as heart weight, caspase‑3, sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase Na+ K+ ATPase, and DNA laddering were determined. Results and Conclusions: Administration of GSE (120 mg/kg/p.o.) treatment significantly (P < 0.01) reduced myocyte loss by suppressing the levels of cardiac caspase‑3, DNA laddering; mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate as well as serum LDH, glucose, apolipoprotein B, and lipids levels. Further, it increased the heart weight and cardiac Na+ K+ ATPase activity in diabetic rats. The cardiomyopathy suppression is accompanied by decrease in cardiac caspase‑3 levels, DNA laddering, blood pressures, serum LDH, apolipoprotein‑B and glucose. Thus, this present study reports the anti‑apoptotic potential of GSE in STZ‑induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.