Poly herbal formulation ameliorates diabetic cardiomyopathy through attenuation of cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress via NF-κB/Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway in diabetic rats.

ABSTRACT The present study was intended to evaluate the effect of poly herbal formulation (PHF) made with three nutraceuticals such as Piper nigrum, Terminalia paniculata and Bauhinia purpurea on inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) which is induced by streptozotocin and nicotinamide administration in rats. We supplemented with PHF (250 and 500mg/kg/BW) to DCM rats for 45 days and evaluated their effects on oxidative stress markers, proinflammatory cytokines and mRNA expressions of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2) and its linked genes (Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase) along with inflammatory genes (Tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-ɑ) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)). Our study demonstrated that PHF successfully attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress via mRNA up-regulation of Nrf-2, HO-1, SOD and catalase and concomitantly down-regulation of TNF-ɑ and NF-κB. Conversely, PHF also protected from hyperglycemia mediated cardiac-damage which was confirmed with histopathological and scanning electron microscopy analysis. In conclusion, our results suggested that PHF successfully ameliorated hyperglycemia mediated inflammation and oxidative stress via regulation of NF-κB/Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway. Therefore, these results recommend that PHF may be a prospective therapeutic agent for DCM.