The effects of 17-methoxyl-7-hydroxy-benzene-furanchalcone on the pressure overload-induced progression of cardiac hypertrophy to cardiac failure

We investigated the effects of 17-methoxyl-7-hydroxy-benzene-furanchalcone (MHBFC), which was isolated from the roots of Millettia pulchra (Benth.) Kurz var. Laxior (Dunn) Z.Wei (Papilionaceae) (MKL), on the progression of cardiac hypertrophy to failure in a rat model of abdominal aortic banding (AAB)-induced pressure overloading. Endothelial dysfunction is central to pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and failure. It would be useful to clarify whether MHBFC could prevent this dysfunction. The effects of pressure overload were assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats 6 weeks after AAB using the progression of cardiac hypertrophy to heart failure as the endpoint. The AAB-treated rats exhibited a greater progression to heart failure and had significantly elevated blood pressure, systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction, and evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH was characterized by increases in the ratios of heart and left ventricular weights to body weight, increased myocyte cross-sectional areas, myocardial and perivascular fibrosis, and elevated cardiac hydroxyproline. These symptoms could be prevented by treatment with MHBFC at daily oral doses of 6 and 12 mg/kg for 6 weeks. The progression to cardiac failure, which was demonstrated by increases in relative lung and right ventricular weights, cardiac function disorders and overexpression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA, could also be prevented. Furthermore, MHBFC partialy rescued the downregulated nitric oxide signaling system, whereas inhibited the upregulated endothelin signaling system, normalizing the balance between these two systems. MHBFC protected the endothelium and prevented the pressure overload-induced progression of cardiac hypertrophy to cardiac failure.