Effect of puerarin in myocardial protection in rats with acute and chronic alcoholism

Objective To investigate the protective effect of puerarin on the myocardium of rats with acute and chronic alcoholism.Methods In acute alcoholism experiment,normal male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group,alcoholism group and puerarin group(n=8),and high-and low-dose puerarin was administered.In chronic alcoholism experiment,increasing puerarin doses were given.Serum and myocardial levels of spartate aminotransferase(AST) and creatine phosphokinase(CPK) were determined using enzymatic methed,and superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase,and Na+-K+-ATPase in the myocardium were assayed with colorimetric method.HE staining was used to observe the microscopic changes of the myocardium.Results Compared with alcoholism group,puerarin-treated groups showed significantly lowered myocardial contents of MDA,CPK and AST and serum levels of AST and CPK(P0.05,P0.01) and increased myocardial SOD(P0.05,P0.01),Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity(P0.05,P0.01),but Na+-K+-ATPase was similar between the two groups(P0.05).HE staining of the myocardium showed cell swelling and obscure cell boundaries in alcoholism group,especially in chronic alcoholism group.The myocardial structure in puerarin group remained clear and regular.Conclusion Puerarin can protect from myocardial injuries induced by acute and chronic alcoholism in rats.