Tomato lycopene attenuates myocardial infarction induced by isoproterenol:Electrocardiographic,biochemical and anti-apoptotic study

Objective:To assess the protective effects of lycopene on electrocardiographic,hemodynamic, biochemical and apoptotic changes in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction.Methods: Myocardial infarction was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol(200 mg/kg) for two consecutive days at an interval of 24 h.Rats were treated with lycopene(10 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for a period of 30 days and isoproterenol(ISO) was injected on the 29th and 30th day.At the end of experiment i.e.on the 31st day electrocardiographic,hemodynamic,biochemical and apoptotic changes were monitored from control and experimental groups.Results:ISO injected ruts showed a significant alteration in electrocardiograph pattern and hemodynamic changes(i.e. systolic,diastolic and mean arterial pressure).It also showed significant increase in C-reactive protein,myeloperoxidase,nitrite levels and Caspase-3 protease activity.In addition,it also exhibited alteration in the levels of electrolytes(Na^+,K^+ and Ca^(2+),vitamin E,uric acid and serum protein.Cel electrophoresis of ISO injected rats showed increase in DNA fragmentation.Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining of the heart section shows increase area of infarction in ISO injected rats.Pre-co-treatment with lycopene significantly prevented the ISO induced ullerution in ECC, haemodynamic,biochemical and apoptotic changes.Conclusions:The present result shows that treatment of lycopene in ISO injected rats significantly attenuates induced myocardial infarction.