Flavonoids from Chinese Viscum coloratum: antiarrhythmic efficacy and ionic mechanisms.

Viscum coloratum flavonoids (VCF) have been demonstrated to produce a variety of biological actions. An accumulating line of evidence supported the view that VCF may exert protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The aim of the study was to assess the antiarrhythmic activity as well as the electrophysiological properties of VCF. The antiarrhythmic effects of VCF were observed in a rat model of arrhythmia induced by aconitine. VCF significantly and dose-dependently increased the dosage of aconitine required to induce the arrhythmia indexes. Electrophysiological experiment revealed that VCF shortened APD through inhibition of ICa-L. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.