Preventive effect of naringin on lipids, lipoproteins and lipid metabolic enzymes in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in wistar rats

This study was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of naringin in isoproterenol (ISO)‐induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Rats were pretreated with naringin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg body weight) orally for a period of 56 days. After the treatment period, ISO (85 mg/kg body weight) was administered subcutaneously to rats at an interval of 24 h for 2 days. There was a significant increase in the levels of total, ester, and free cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFA) in serum and heart and decrease in heart phospholipids (PL) in ISO‐induced rats. Altered levels of lipoproteins and activities of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐Coenzyme reductase A in liver and heart, lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase and lipoprotein lipase in plasma were also observed in ISO‐induced rats. Pretreatment with naringin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) for a period of 56 days significantly decreased the levels of total, ester, and free cholesterol, TG, FFA in serum and heart and increased PL in heart. It also minimized the alterations in serum lipoproteins and lipid metabolic enzymes in ISO‐induced rats. Thus, naringin has a lipid‐lowering effect in ISO‐induced MI rats. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 20:191–197, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20136