Pharmacodynamic interaction of Tinospora cordifolia Willd. With Ocimum sanctum Linn. in isoproterenol-induced cardiac toxicity

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of deaths despite several advancements in the current medical interventions. Among them, myocardial infarction (MI) is the most alarming disease as about 17.1 million peoples die every year due to MI. Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the potential cardioprotective effect of combination of standardized extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (SETC) (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) and Ocimum sanctum (SEOS) (50 mg/kg) in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI. Materials and methods: MI was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of ISO for 2 consecutive days at an interval of 24 h. Rats were pretreated with test drugs for the period of 21 days, and ISO was administered on the 20th and 21st days. At the end of experiment, i.e., on 22nd-day electrocardiograph, a hemodynamic, biochemical, and histopathological study of heart tissues was evaluated from control and experimental groups and statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test. Results: ISO-administered rats showed significant changes in electrocardiograph, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, biochemical markers, antioxidant parameters, and histopathology of heart. The activities of cardiac biomarkers were reduced in serum, and there was an increase in antioxidants in heart tissue of test drug-treated animals. Similarly, electrocardiograph, mean arterial blood pressure, and heart rate were restored to normalcy in all test and standard drug-treated animals. Conclusion: The SETC 500 mg/kg in combination with SEOS 50 mg/kg was found to be effective in prevention of myocardial injury induced by ISO.