Cardioprotective Effect of the Ethanolic Extract of Medicago sativa Leaves

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the acute condition of necrosis of the myocardium that occurs as newlinea result of imbalance between coronary blood supply and myocardial demand. Due to changing newlinelifestyle in developing countries, particularly in urban areas, MI is making an increasingly important newlinecontribution to mortality statistics. Although modern drugs are effective in preventing cardiovascular newlinediseases, their use is often limited because of their side effects. Many medicinal plants have been newlinefound to possess beneficial effects in various pathological conditions. Therefore, interest in the newlineexamination of plants as potential sources of new drugs are increasing. Hence, in the present study, newlineMedicagosativa, a perennial flowering herb belongs to the family Fabaceae was selected to find out newlinethe cardioprotective effect in experimental rats. A survey was conducted in selected hospitals of newlineCoimbatore city to find out the prevalence of MI. Their clinical history and symptoms were collected newlinefrom case sheets and medical records. From the medical records the biochemical and clinical newlineparameters were studied in detail. The treatment regimen was also followed for a period of one year newline(after 3, 6 and 12 months period of therapy). Among the patients undergoing treatment, 5% of them newlineshowed side effects of the medication.The leaves possessed the maximum levels of all enzymicand newlinenon enzymic antioxidants compared to other parts.Among the various extracts, phytochemical newlinecomponents were extracted best in ethanolic extract of M. sativa leaves when compared to other newlineextracts and also scavenged the free radicals more effectively. The ethanolic extract of M. sativa leaves newlinehas been shown to possess cardioprotective effect against isoproterenol- induced myocardial infarction newlinein rats which was supported by biochemical parameters and histopathological studies of the heart newlinetissue sections of experimental rats. The chromatographic and spectral analysis indicated the presence newlineof bioactive components present in the ethanolic extract of M. sativaleaves. newline