Beneficial effects of schisandrin B on the cardiac function in mice model of myocardial infarction

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 8;8(11):e79418. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079418. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis has been used in the traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Accumulating evidence suggests that Schisandrin B (Sch B) has cardioprotection effect on myocardial ischemia in vitro. However, it is unclear whether Sch B has beneficial effects on continuous myocardial ischemia in vivo. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Sch B could improve cardiac function and attenuate myocardial remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) in mice. Mice model of MI was established by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Then the MI mice were randomly treated with Sch B or vehicle alone. After treatment for 3 weeks, Sch B could increase survival rate, improve heart function and decrease infarct size compared with vehicle. Moreover, Sch B could down-regulate some inflammatory cytokines, activate eNOS pathway, inhibit cell apoptosis, and enhance cell proliferation. Further in vitro study on H9c2 cells showed similar effects of Sch B on prevention of hypoxia-induced inflammation and cell apoptosis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Sch B can reduce inflammation, inhibit apoptosis, and improve cardiac function after ischemic injury. It represents a potential novel therapeutic approach for treatment of ischemic heart disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclooctanes / chemistry
  • Cyclooctanes / pharmacology
  • Cyclooctanes / therapeutic use
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lignans / chemistry
  • Lignans / pharmacology
  • Lignans / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy*
  • Polycyclic Compounds / chemistry
  • Polycyclic Compounds / pharmacology
  • Polycyclic Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Rats
  • Schisandra / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cyclooctanes
  • Lignans
  • Polycyclic Compounds
  • schizandrin B

Grants and funding

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81170102/H0203), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (BL2012011), the Chinese Medical Association of the Sunlight Foundation (SCRFCMDA201217), the Fourth Period Progect “333” of Jiangsu Province (BRA2012207), and the Science and Technological Innovation Group of Jiangsu Higher Education Institution “Qing-Lan Project” (JX2161015030). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.