Cymbopogon Proximus Essential Oil Protects Rats against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis

Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor of many cardiovascular diseases. Several cardiovascular protective properties of have been reported. However, no reports investigating the direct effect of essential oil on the heart are available. The goal of this study was to explore the cardioprotective effect of on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Male albino rats were administered essential oil in the presence or absence of hypertrophic agonist isoproterenol. Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histological examination. Pre- treatment of rats with decreased the ratio of heart weight to body weight and gene expression of hypertrophy markers atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), which were induced by isoproterenol. Moreover, prevented the increase in gene expression of fibrosis markers procollagen I and procollagen III and alleviated the collagen volume fraction caused by isoproterenol. The pre- treatment with essential oil conferred cardio-protection against isoproterenol- induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.