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From artifact to site : understanding the canal in the city or gardens
Abstract
Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-128). The words 'garden' and 'infrastructure' express the power of culture over nature. In celebration of its history of Mughal gardens and waterworks, Lahore has been construed in local imaginations as "the city of gardens". In this thesis I argue that the contemporary usage of this popular urban motif is rooted in the nineteenth-century planning of the city and the concurrent development of the vast canal irrigation system in the Punjab. I examine the Lahore Canal to evidence how it shapes not only the form of the city but also its character: at the end of the nineteenth century Lahore is transformed into a center of culture and refinement, "the city of gardens". This thesis looks at the story of the modernization of a landscape to transform it from an "arid desert" into a "fertile garden", in two parts. First I examine the canal, the instrument of this transformation, as an artifact of a technological system. I argue that, in this capacity, it is a conduit for ideas of reform and cultivation that accompany colonial planning and that these ideas later emerge within the city-of-gardens rhetoric. In the context of contemporary urban issues, a sentimental identification with the Mughal history of gardens ignores the colonial themes of decay, fertility and beauty. I argue that a continued uncritical attachment to the city-of-gardens narrative obfuscates planning challenges in the city through a continuing emphasis on landscape beautification. This approach is not just irrelevant but pernicious to topical thinking about equitable and sustainable development. (cont.) In the second part of the thesis I explore the canal as a site for contemporary urban planning. By identifying the themes explored in part one in the built form, I propose an expanded program for future design directions. Nida Rehman. M.Arch.
This update of the Gardens of the Mughal Empire bibliography is the result of new questions and avenues of research that have expanded the temporal, geographic, and thematic bounds of Mughal garden sources. It builds on this site’s first bibliography published by Michael Brand (2001), which reflected the many historical sources for and rapid growth of Mughal garden scholarship in the 1990s. In addition to delineating the contours of this body of scholarship, that bibliography became a comprehensive list of sources on Mughal Lahore and its gardens. Notably, even in that early iteration, an understanding of the necessity for multidisciplinary approaches to Mughal gardens is evident. The range of sources identified
stemmed from the disciplines of landscape architecture, geography, history, and art history, as well as South Asian and Islamic studies.
In 2007, the bibliography was updated with scholarship published since 2001, and its thematic categories were refined to reflect the use of Mughal gardens as an analytic lens into the cultural heritage of Punjab. The update also benefited from detailed excavations and conservation of notable garden sites, such as the Moonlight Garden in Agra, Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, and Babur’s tomb-garden in Kabul. These projects made possible the reconstruction of newly unearthed water systems and pathways and necessitated a new bibliographic category, “Mughal and Islamicate Gardens, Waterworks, Arts, and Conservation.” The 2007 Nagaur palace-garden complex excavations also brought to light the importance of soil profiles and planting techniques, and the bibliography was also updated to include materials on plants and vegetation of South and Southwest Asia.
This latest iteration highlights the substantial amount of additional scholarship on Mughal gardens published from 2007 to 2018. As in previous updates, we include earlier items missed in the previous bibliographies. Many of the updates reflect new directions in the field of art history, moving Mughal gardens beyond the visual dimension foregrounded in art historical practice. New emphasis has been placed on multisensorial experiences, bringing oral, olfactory, and affective dimensions of Mughal gardens. In addition, we have expanded the geographic span beyond Lahore and the Punjab to include recent research on regional gardens of Kashmir, Rajasthan, and the Deccan. The wider range of related
materials include Pahari painting and Sikh sacred texts. These updates respond to the need for regional approaches to South Asian studies expounded in recent edited volumes on the Punjab and the Deccan, for a cross-regional comparison of gardens and water systems, and for a broader understanding of the geographic and temporal reach of Mughal gardens. This includes sources on colonial and postcolonial garden practices, contemporary Mughal gardens outside of South Asia, and vernacular kitchen gardens. Significant progress has been made in broadening the types of sources considered and making them more accessible on platforms such as academia.edu, researchgate.net, and archnet.org. The underlined articles in this bibliography are linked to PDFs that are available online for free.
A number of investigative loose ends remain. While advances in scientific method were used to great effect in Mughal garden research of the early 2000s, a broader exploration of methods across disciplines is necessary, particularly in the realms of digital humanities and anthropology. On the one hand, urban infrastructure development in Lahore raises new challenges for heritage conservation. On the positive side, conservation projects carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has demonstrated successful integration of heritage conservation and community concerns, of those whose lives and livelihoods intersect with historic Mughal gardens, which opens the door for further research on urban landscape
heritage conservation in South Asia.
List of Sections in the 2008-2018 Update
1. General Indo-Islamic History, Geography, and Culture
2. General Mughal Gardens, Art, Architecture, and Conservation
3. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Punjab
4. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Lahore
5. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Kashmir
6. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Himachal Pradesh
7. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Rajasthan
8. Cultural Landscape Heritage of the Deccan
9. Cultural Landscape Heritage of Colonial and Postcolonial India
10. Contemporary Islamic Gardens
11. Selected Water References
12. Selected References on Plants and Vegetation of Southwest Asia
13. Older Materials on Lahore
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants which help in the overall maintenance of the health of an organism but are not essential nutrients. This is because in excess some phytochemicals act by decreasing nutrient intake. These chemicals occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains, and perform biological functions by acting as antioxidants, physiological agents, antimicrobial agents and numerous other functions depending on the type of phytochemical present. Scientists estimate that there are over 10,000 of different phytochemicals having the potential to affect diseases such as cancer, stroke, metabolic syndromes etc. Although only a small fraction of these phytochemicals have been studied closely and this is why nine of the common phytochemicals; flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, phytate, haemaglutinin, saponins, tannins, oxalate and phenols were reviewed to unveil its biological roles and its anti-nutritional instincts.
Keywords: Anti-microbial agents, Anti-nutrients, anti-oxidants, diseases, phytochemicals.
Medicinal plants are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals or bionutrients. Studies carried out during the past 2–3 decades have shown that these phytochemicals have an important role in preventing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The major classes of phytochemicals with disease-preventing functions are dietary fibre, antioxidants, anticancer, detoxifying agents, immunity-potentiating agents and neuropharmacological agents. Each class of these functional agents consists of a wide range of chemicals with differing potency. Some of these phytochemicals have more than one function. There is, however, much scope for further systematic research in screening Indian medicinal plants for these phytochemicals and assessing their potential in protecting against different types of diseases
The present study was designed to develop safer, effective, and viable cardioprotective herbal combination to control oxidative stress related cardiac ailments as new alternatives to synthetic drugs. The synergetic cardioprotective potential of herbal combination of four plants
T. arjuna
(T.A.),
P. nigrum
(P.N),
C. grandiflorus
(C), and
C. oxyacantha
(Cr) was assessed through curative and preventive mode of treatment. In preventive mode of treatment, the cardiac injury was induced with synthetic catecholamine (salbutamol) to pretreated rabbits with the proposed herbal combination for three weeks. In curative mode of treatment, cardiotoxicity/oxidative stress was induced in rabbits with salbutamol prior to treating them with plant mixture. Cardiac marker enzymes, lipids profile, and antioxidant enzymes as biomarker of cardiotoxicity were determined in experimental animals. Rabbits administrated with mere salbutamol showed a significant increase in cardiac marker enzymes and lipid profile and decrease in antioxidant enzymes as compared to normal control indicating cardiotoxicity and myocardial cell necrosis. However, pre- and postadministration of plant mixture appreciably restored the levels of all biomarkers. Histopathological examination confirmed that the said combination was safer cardioprotective product.
The present study was designed to investigate whether Sida rhombifolia Linn (Malvaceae), a natural herb, would attenuate the acute myocardial infarction in isoproterenol (ISP)-treated rat model via maintaining cardiac function and activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Heart tissue enzyme analysis in albino (Wistar) male rats, such as LPO, GSH, GPX, GST, SOD, CAT, CK-MB, MDA and biochemical analysis in serum plasma viz., ALT, AST, LDH, CPK were performed. Ethanolic extract of Sida rhombifolia (SRE) at the dose of (100& 200 mg/kg/p.o) produced significant salvages the heart from isoproterenol induced myocardial ischemic injury. The results indicate that SRE administration causes myocardial adaptation by augmenting endogenous antioxidants and protects rat hearts from decline in cardiac function and oxidative stress associated with ISP induced myocardial injury, and justify its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases in albino rats.
Cardioprotective potential of methanol extract of Cyprus rotundus on serum cardiac marker enzymes (CK-MB, LDH, AST,
ALT), serum lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) and antioxidant enzymes in heart tissues (SOD, CAT, peroxidase)
was evaluated in isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction in rabbits. Isoproterenol (85 mg kg-1) significantly
increased the level of cardiac marker enzymes and lipids and decreased the antioxidant enzymes in heart tissues of rabbits.
Male albino rabbits were pretreated with three different doses of C. rotundus (100, 150 & 200 mg kg-1) daily for a period of 21
days and then intoxicated with Isoproterenol (85 mg kg-1) for two consecutive days. The treatment with different doses of C.
rotundus extract significantly (p<0.001) reduced the ISO induced elevated level of lipids (cholesterol triglycerides, LDL) and
cardiac enzymes (ALT, AST, LDH, CK-MB) and restored the level of antioxidant enzymes in heart tissues. The highest effect
was observed @ 200 mg/kg b.wt, which was near to normal. The present study concluded that C. rotundus may be used as
therapeutic agent for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and myocardial infarction.
Over the centuries plants have ben efectively used as a potent source of traditonal medicine. Present experiment was
aimed to evaluate the hypocholesterolemic and anti-atherogenic efect of feding Terminalia chebula powder (TCP) in
rabits. A total of (n=20) rabits were asigned to four treatment groups with n=5 animals in each group. Experimental
treatments received Normal Saline (NS); T. chebula powder (TCP), high fat diet (HFD) and high fat diet plus T. chebula
powder (HFDTCP). Blod samples were taken on a wekly basis to diagnose the efects of test drug on serum Total
Cholesterol (TC), LDL, HDL, Triglycerides (TG) and Atherogenic Index. Al the parameters were measured in mg/dl
except the atherogenic index measured in units. In HFD rabits TC (362.59±6.0), LDL (262.59±6.12) triglycerides
(258.7±2.90) and atherogenic index (13.50±1.20) was higher (p <0.05), while HDL (25.73±1.09) was significantly
reduced to an alarming level at the end of eight weks. When HFD rabits were treated with TCP for eight weks, TC
(132.60±4.93), LDL (89.13±2.75), Triglycerides (125.86±9.06) and atherogenic index (1.54±0.03) reduced significantly
and increased (p <0.05) the HDL (52.10±1.50). It was therefore concluded thathat T. chebula powder can safely be used
to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and to enhance god cholesterol (HDL).
Key words: Medicinal plants, Terminalia chebula, HDL, LDL, Hypercholesteremia, Atherogenic Index
The rising incidence of metabolic syndrome globally has been attributed to sedentary lifestyles and the consumption of high energy diets with a low omega-3: omega-6 fatty acid ratio. Coriander seeds, commonly used for culinary purposes, have beneficial health effects. We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with coriander seeds on growth performance, hepatic and visceral adipose tissue lipid storage and circulating metabolic substrates in healthy, growing rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats (150-200 g) were fed either standard rat chow (n = 8) or standard rat chow supplemented with crushed coriander seeds (n = 8; 500 mg kg-1 body mass). After five weeks, there were no significant differences in body mass gain, plasma free
fatty acids and triglyceride concentrations of the rats (p > 0.05; t-test). Whilst dietary supplementation with coriander did not affect the lipid content of the liver, it significantly increased the amount of monounsaturated (22.62 ± 6.48% vs 0.65 ± 0.32%) and polyunsaturated (54.89 ± 5.10% vs 22.16 ± 7.79%) fatty acids in the visceral adipose tissue where it also decreased the saturated fatty acid content (p < 0.05; t-test). Coriander increased the omega 3: omega 6 ratio in the visceral adipose tissue which may explain its health benefits.
The leaves of the plant were extracted with ethanol by maceration and subjected to colorimetry to determine flavonoids and phenolic compounds. High-performance TLC analysis and subsequent CAMAG's TLC scanning were performed to quantify rosmarinic acid content. Wistar rats were assigned to 6 groups of normal control, sham, isoproterenol, and treatment with 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of the extract two times per day concurrent with MI induction. A subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (100 mg/kg/day) for 2 consecutive days was used to induce MI.
Phytochemical screening indicated the presence of phenolic compounds (5.36%) and flavonoids (1.86%). Rosmarinic acid was the principal phenolic compound with a 15.74% existence. The ST-segment elevation induced by isoproterenol was significantly suppressed by all doses of the extract. A severe myocardial necrosis and fibrosis with a sharp reduction in left ventricular contractility and a marked increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were seen in the isoproterenol group, all of which were significantly improved by the extract treatment. In addition to in-vitro antioxidant activity, the extract significantly suppressed the elevation of malondialdehyde levels both in the serum and the myocardium.
The results of the study demonstrate that Ocimum basilicum strongly protected the myocardium against isoproterenol-induced infarction and suggest that the cardioprotective effects could be related to antioxidative activities.
Cardiac arrhythmias are of different types based on their mechanism and origin. The information gathered from animal studies has been instrumental in devising diagnostic and therapeutic strategies; so different animal models are needed for different types of arrhythmias. The origin and mechanism underlying clinical arrhythmias are of considerable significance, since knowledge of these processes may provide a basis for successful therapy. Various animal models that encompass different types of arrhythmias are reviewed. This review classifies various experimental models according to their origin, which are mainly supraventricular and ventricular. Also included are various transgenic animal models for arrhythmias.
Rhythm and conduction disturbances and sudden cardiac death (SCD) are important manifestations of cardiac involvement in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a major cause of SCD is atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, leading to acute coronary syndrome and ventricular arrhythmias. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), sinus tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and atrial ectopic beats are the major cardiac arrhythmias. In some cases, sinus tachycardia may be the only manifestation of cardiac involvement. The most frequent cardiac rhythm disturbances in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), often appearing as monomorphic, single PVCs, or rarely as bigeminy, trigeminy or pairs. Transient atrial fibrillation, flutter or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia are also described in 20-30% of SSc patients. Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia was described in 7-13%, while SCD is reported in 5-21% of unselected patients with SSc. The conduction disorders are more frequent in ARD than the cardiac arrhythmias. In RA, infiltration of the atrioventricular (AV) node can cause right bundle branch block in 35% of patients. AV block is rare in RA, and is usually complete. In SLE small vessel vasculitis, the infiltration of the sinus or AV nodes, or active myocarditis can lead to first-degree AV block in 34-70% of patients. In contrast to RA, conduction abnormalities may regress when the underlying disease is controlled. In neonatal lupus, 3% of infants whose mothers are antibody positive develop complete heart block. Conduction disturbances in SSc are due to fibrosis of sinoatrial node, presenting as abnormal ECG, bundle and fascicular blocks and occur in 25-75% of patients.
Mortality and morbidity sudden cardiac death is one of the main causes in dustrial countries. Medicinal plants, due to their low side effects, have been used as alternative to chemical drugs. Exercise is an important factor for preventing cardiovascular risk and has been associated with several cardiovascular benefits. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cardiopective effects of Ellagic acid and exercise against CaCl2 induced arrhythmia in rats. In this study, 32 male Sprague Dawley rats (200-250 gr), were used for experiments during the period of 21 days. Rats were divided into 4 groups; group I: Control (received saline for 10 days(, group II: received Ellagic acid (15 mg/kg, gavage, 10 days), group III: received forced exercise (treadmill,1 hour/day, 21 days), group IV: received Ellagic acid plus forced exercise. After anesthesia, lead II electrocardiogram was recorded for calculating heart rate and QRS complex. The arrhythmia was produced by injection of CaCl2 solution (140 mg/kg, iv) and percentage incidence of Ventricular premature beats (VPB), ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were recorded. Results were analyzed by using one-way ANOVA and Fisher`s exact test. P<0.05 was considered as significant level. The result shows that a positive inotropic and negative chronotropic effect for Ellagic acid and exercise as compare with the control group. Oral pretreatment of Ellagic acid and exercise prevents CaCl2 induced arrhythmia. This substance is suggested as an antiarrhythmic which showed a protective function of Ellagic acid in heart. © 2018 Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences. All Rights Reserved.
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gaseous messenger suggested to regulate
cardiovascular functions. This study evaluates the possible protective effect of H2S in aconitine and
barium chloride (BaCl2) models of arrhythmias in rats. The effects of sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS, i.v.)
on electrocardiograph (ECG) patterns, biochemical cardiac markers (creatine kinase-MB isozyme and
cardiac troponin I), cardiac histopathology and aconitine (30 µg/kg, i.v.) and BaCl2 (15 mg/kg, i.v.) -
induced arrhythmias were studied in rats. NaHS significantly decreased heart rate at doses of 3, 4, and
6, but not 0.8 and 1.2 mg/kg. Aconitine caused 100% ventricular tachycardia (VT), 80% ventricular
fibrillation (VF), and 60% mortality after 26±5 sec. NaHS (0.8 mg/kg, i.v.) pretreatment significantly
decreased the VT, VF and mortality to 62.5, 25, and 0% respectively and delayed the occurrence of VT
by 349±2 sec. Similarly, BaCl2 caused 75% VF and 37.5% mortality after 18 ± 8 sec. NaHS (0.8 mg/kg i.v.)
pretreatment significantly decreased VF to 50% without affecting mortality rate. Moreover, NaHS (0.8
mg/kg, i.p., daily for 3 days) had no significant effects on ECG patterns, cardiac biomarkers or
histopathology. Our results indicate that H2S has a protective role against arrhythmias without affecting
ECG patterns, cardiac biomarkers or histopathology.
Here, we report an unusual cause of ventricular tachycardia which had developed following pseudoephedrine intake. A 55 year old male patient was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of sustained palpitation. Monitorization records revealed ventricular tachycardia of 214 beats per minute. He had been suffering upper respiratory tract symptoms for the last two days. Palpitation had started an hour later following the ingestion of cold remedy drug, which included pseudoephedrine, and serious dyspnea gradually occurred. He had ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease but he did not have a history of arrhythmia, any palpitation, diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Initially, lidocaine and later amiodorone infusion was administered but medical cardioversion was not successful. Sinus rhythm was provided after electrical cardioversion with 200 joule. Thereafter the patient was stable.
The present work was conducted to study the effect of coriander and vitamin B6 and their combination on the nutritional value, lipid parameters, liver function and antioxidant enzymes of rats suffering from hyperlipidemia. Sixty (60) rats consumed hyperlipidemic diet for 21 days then divided into 6 groups (n=10 rats of each) as followed: The first group consumed basal diet as a control positive group. The second, fourth and fifth groups consumed the basal diet containing coriander powder, vitamin B and coriander powder plus vitamin B, respectively. The third and sixth groups consumed the basal diet with coriander extract and coriander extract plus vitamin B. The results revealed that, all treated groups reduced serum cholesterol (CHO), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), very low density lipoprotein (VLDLc), liver function enzymes activity and liver cholesterol and also atherogenic indices, while increased in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc). Furthermore, all treated groups showed a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) enzymes activity however malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased compared to control +ve group. Coriander powder plus vitamin B6 and coriander extract plus vitamin B6 rat groups showed improvement of nutritional results and increasing levels of antioxidant enzymes and also that gave the desirable hypolipidemic effect. The most improvement of liver enzymes activities was appeared in coriander extract plus vitamin B6 rat group.
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used cancer chemotherapeutic agent. However, it generates free oxygen radicals that result in serious dose-limiting cardiotoxicity. Supplementations with Gmelina arborea (Verbenaceae) were proven effective in reducing oxidative stress associated with several ailments. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential protective effect of Gmelina arborea (GA) against DOX- induced cardiotoxicity in rats. GA was given orally to rats(250&500mg/kg) and DOX (20mg/kg) was administered on the seventh day. GA protected against DOX-induced increased the levels of marker enzymes. It significantly inhibited DOX-provoked glutathione (GSH) depletion in cardiac tissues. The reductions of cardiac activities of catalase (CAT) ,superoxide dismutase (SOD) ,glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione reductase (GR) were significantly mitigated. Pretreatment of GA significantly guarded against DOX-induced rise of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). GA alleviated histopathological changes in rats' hearts treated with DOX. In conclusion, GA protects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. The study can be attributed, at least in part, to GA's antioxidant activity.
Objective: To observe the electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate in a rabbit model of hyperkalemia induced by potassium chloride, and provide theoretical and experimental reference for timely diagnosis of hyperkalemia clinically. Methods: Forty rabbits were randomly assigned into four groups. 0.9% isotonic saline solution was perfused in the group I, while l.0%, 4.0% and 10.0% potassium chloride solutions were perfused in the other groups, respectively, to induce hyperkalemia. Results: The changes of serum potassium, ECG and heart rate before perfusion were significantly (P<0.05) different from those after perfusion in the other groups compared with group I. The effect of ECG variability rates was well consistent (Kappa = 0.724, P<0.01) with that of serum potassium on diagnostic tests in the other groups. The area under ROC curve in diagnosis effect of ECG variability rates and serum potassium on hyperkalaemia was much significantly larger (P<0.01 and P<0.05) compared with 0.5. There was a significantly positive correlation between ECG variability rates and serum potassium (r= 0.865, P<0.05 for bilateral Pearson test). There was certain positive correlation between heart rate and serum potassium, but the correlation was poor (r= 0.526, R2=0.277). Conclusion: A combination of serum potassium, ECG variability rates and heart rate should be considered and analyzed by synthesis to establish an accurate and timely diagnosis for hyperkalemia. © 2013 The Editorial Board of Journal of Medical Colleges of PLA. E-edition published by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
In recent years, essential oils have been qualified as natural antioxidants and proposed as potential substitutes of synthetic antioxidants in food preservation. The safety of the synthetic antioxidants has been doubted. In this study essential oil of coriander were analyzed by GC/MS and its chemical compositions were identified. Camphor (44.99%), cyclohexanol acetate (cis-2-tert.butyl-) (14.45%), limonene (7.17%), α-pinene (6.37%), were the main components of coriander essential oil (CEO). Then, antioxidant and antifungal activities of CEO were evaluated in cake during 60 day storage at room temperature. The results indicated that, CEO at 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15% inhibited the rate of primary and secondary oxidation products formation in cake and their effects were almost equal to BHA at 0.02 % (p<0.01). Antioxidant effects of this essential oil may be due to its trepene and terpenoid components. CEO at 0.15 % could inhibit the growth of fungal in the cake. Organoleptic evaluation of cakes containing CEO at 0.05 % was not different from the control (p<0.01). Results showed that this essential oil could be used as natural antioxidant and antifungal in foodstuffs especially those lipid containing.
Coriandrum sativum L. (CS) seeds are known to possess therapeutic potentials against a variety of physiological disorders. This study assesses acute and sub-chronic toxicity profile of hydro-methanolic extract of CS seeds using OECD guidelines. In acute toxicity study, mice were once orally administered 1000, 3000 and 5000 mg/kg body weight of CS extract. There were no any behavioral alterations or mortality recorded in CS treated groups. The LD50 value was more than 5000 mg/kg body weight. In the sub-chronic oral toxicity study, the animals
were orally administered with CS extract (1000, 2000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight) daily for 28 days whereas; vehicle control group received 0.5 % carboxy methyl cellulose. There was significant reduction in food intake, body weight gain and plasma lipid profiles of CS2 and CS3 (2000 and 3000 mg/kg body weight respectively) groups as compared to the control group. However, there were no alterations in haematological profile, relative organ weights, histology and plasma markers of damage of vital organs (heart, liver and kidney). The overall
finding of this study indicates that CS extract is non-toxic up to 3000 mg/kg body weight and can be considered as safe for consumption.
This study is designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of fenugreek on isoproterenol- induced myocardial infarction and is investigated by an in vivo method in rats.
Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups (n=10). Group I received 0.5% CMC treated as normal control group. Group II received isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneal (i.p.) for two consecutive days (14(th) and 15(th) days). Group III received fenugreek (250 mg/kg body weight) intragastric intubation for 15 days. Group IV rats received fenugreek as in Group III and additionally isoproterenol was given for two consecutive days (14(th) and 15(th) days).
The results described the cardioprotective effect that observed in Group IV showed significantly (P< 0.05) decreased levels of TBARS and enhanced the activities of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH) in myocardial infarcted rats when compared to Groups II and III. Histopathological studies were also co-relating with the above biochemical parameters.
These findings concluded the cardioprotective effect of fenugreek on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system during isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.
The cardioprotective potential of Inula racemosa root hydroalcoholic extract against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction was investigated in rats. The rats treated with isoproterenol (85 mg/kg, s.c.) exhibited myocardial infarction, as evidenced by significant (P < 0.05) decrease in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, contractility, relaxation along with increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure, as well as decreased endogenous myocardial enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Isoproterenol also significantly (P < 0.05) induced lipid peroxidation and increased leakage of myocyte injury marker enzymes. Pretreatment with I. racemosa extract (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 21 consecutive days, followed by isoproterenol injections on days 19th and 20th significantly (P < 0.05) improved cardiac function by increasing the heart rate, mean arterial pressure, contractility and relaxation along with decreasing left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Pretreatment with I. racemosa also significantly (P < 0.05) restored the reduced form of glutathione and endogenous antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase from the heart, which were depleted after isoproterenol administration. In addition to restoration of antioxidants, I. racemosa significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited lipid peroxidation and prevented the leakage of myocytes specific marker enzymes creatine phosphokinase-MB and lactate dehydrogenase from the heart. Thus, it is concluded that I. racemosa protects heart from isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury by reducing oxidative stress and modulating hemodynamic and ventricular functions of the heart. Present study findings demonstrate the cardioprotective effect of I. racemosa and support the pharmacological relevance of its use and cardioprotection mechanism in ischemic heart disease as well as substantiate its traditional claim.
Caveolae are specialized membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids which are present in multiple cell types including cardiomyocytes. Along with the essential scaffolding protein caveolin-3, a number of different ion channels and transporters have been localized to caveolae in cardiac myocytes including L-type Ca2+ channels (Ca(v)1.2), Na+ channels (Na(v)1.5), pacemaker channels (HCN4), Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) and others. Closely associated with these channels are specific macromolecular signaling complexes that provide highly localized regulation of the channels. Mutations in the caveolin-3 gene (CAV3) have been linked with the congenital long QT syndrome (LQT9), and mutations in caveolar-localized ion channels may contribute to other inherited arrhythmias. Changes in the caveolar microdomain in acquired heart disease may also lead to dysregulation and dysfunction of ion channels, altering the risk of arrhythmias in conditions such as heart failure. This review highlights the existing evidence identifying and characterizing ion channels localized to caveolae in cardiomyocytes and their role in arrhythmogenesis.
We demonstrated here that an initial treatment with aconitine- or barium-chloride-induced arrhythmias and resulted in reduced susceptibility of the heart to the induction of arrhythmias by a repeated drug treatment 24 h after the initial one, a delayed preconditioning cardioprotection. This delayed preconditioning was accompanied by enhanced expression of cardiac muscarinic M(3) receptor and abolished by M(3)-selective antagonist. We conclude that muscarinic M(3) receptors might play an important role in conferring the pharmacological preconditioning against arrhythmias. This study thus expands our understanding of the cellular function and pathophysiological roles of muscarinic M(3) receptor and reconsolidates our view of cardioprotective effects of muscarinic M(3) receptor on myocardium.
Few experimental models produce spontaneous tachycardia in normal left atria to allow the study of the cellular mechanisms underlying this contributor to atrial fibrillation. We reported 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) that provokes sporadic spontaneous mechanical activity and calcium leak in isolated rat left atria. Since sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium leak in the presence of high calcium load may trigger tachyarrhythmias, we tested how conditions that increase calcium load affect 2-APB-induced ectopic activity. Exposing superfused rat left atria to (i) 30 nM isoproterenol, (ii) 3 microM forskolin, (iii) 300 nM (-)BayK 8644 ((4S)-1,4-Dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-[2-(trifluormethyl)phenyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid methyl ester), (iv) 300 nM FPL-64176 (2,5-Dimethyl-4-[2-(phenylmethyl)benzoyl]-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester) or (v) 120 microM ouabain increases their force of contraction, evidence of calcium loading, but does not produce ectopic activity. Spontaneous mechanical activity occurs in left atria superfused with 20 microM 2-APB at 47+/-6 contractions/min in the absence of pacing. Any of these five agents increase rates of 2-APB-induced spontaneous mechanical activity to >200 contractions/min in the absence of pacing. Washing tachycardic left atria with superfusate lacking 2-APB restores normal function, demonstrating the reversibility of these effects. Decreasing superfusate sodium reverses this tachycardia and two hyperpolarization-activated current (I(f)) inhibitors blunt this ectopic activity. Thus conditions that increase atrial calcium load increase the frequency of spontaneous mechanical activity. Decreasing extracellular sodium and I(f) inhibitors suppress this spontaneous tachycardia suggesting forward-mode sodium-calcium exchange and I(f)-like activities underlie this activity. This model may help define cell pathways that trigger atrial tachyarrhythmias.
Medicinal plants (importance and uses) Pharm Anal Acta
- Bar Hassan
Hassan BAR, 2012. Medicinal plants (importance and uses). Pharm Anal
Acta, 2012: 3-10.
Biochemical effect of garlic oil administration in heart necrosis induced experimentally in rats
- M Omnia
- A Elhamid
- B Hatem
- Rania Hm
- A Elnaga
Omnia M, Elhamid A, Hatem B and Rania HM and Elnaga A, 2014.
Biochemical effect of garlic oil administration in heart necrosis
induced experimentally in rats. Benha Vet Med J, 27: 264‐276.
Cardioprotective effect of Garcinia combogiaon isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats
- N Subhashini
- G Nagarajan
- O Shahinsha
- K Leelanvitha
- S Kavimani
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