Background & Aim:Momordica charantiais an extensively distributed plant that is broadly prescribed in African medical system for treatment of various ailments. The plant has a comprehensive range of therapeutic uses. The present study reveals the antioxidative and cardioprotective abilities of methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MLEMC) against cardiotoxicity using alloxan-induced animal model. Experimental: The ameliorative effect of the methanol leaf extract of Momordica charantia (MLEMC) was studied in alloxan-induced cardiac injury in 50 rats divided into five groups (A-E) (n =10) i.e. group A control, group B was toxicant group, group C animals received glibenclamide treatment while groups D and E received extracts at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively, for 28 days. Histopathological changes, serum cardiac injury markers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitric oxide (NO) contents; oxidative status, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, cardiac P38 and CRP were evaluated. Results: The extract-treated group showed a decreased level of oxidant markers such as malondialdehyde(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) but increased levels of protein thiols, non-protein thiols, glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) indicating its anti-oxidant potential. Heart sections revealed mild distortion of the cardiac architecture compared to toxicant group while decreased expression of cardiac P38 and CRP in extract-treated groups was observed. Recommended applications/industries: The plant extract exhibited anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, thereby displaying cardio-protective property which propose the plant as a good natural source for herbal nutraceuticals.
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