Abstract

Background: Myocardial infarction is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae is reported to have anti-apoptotic and cardio-protective activity. It not known whether or not Crassulaceae extract will ameliorate adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods Thirty two (32) Wistar rats weighing between 150g-210g were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each. Group 1 as normal control, Group 2, took ethanolic leaf extract of Crassulaceae (600 mg/kg bwt. orally once daily), Group 3 received Adrenaline (0.5ml/kg body weight i.p. once daily), Group 4, Adrenaline + Crassulaceae. All the groups were given normal rat chow and drinking water ad libitum for 28 days. Thereafter, animals were euthanized using chloroform anesthesia. The heart was harvested and homogenized for laboratory assay. ResultsThe results of the study showed significant (p

Key words: Crassulaceae, Apoptosis, Caspase-3, BCl2, ACE, cardiac biomarkers.