Preconditioning with Partharishta reduces the oxidative stress associated with myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury in H9c2 cells

BACKGROUND: Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion (I/R) injury- a paradoxical challenge associated with contemporary methods of successful resuscitation triggers uncontrolled apoptosis induced by the concomitant oxidative stress. Adaptive mechanisms incorporating the upregulation of cytoprotective genes like Nrf2 protects cells from apoptotic changes and dysfunction under stress conditions. Partharishta an Ayurvedic formulation with all its individual ingredients being potent antioxidants, is thought to bring a positive result in reducing oxidative stress in cardiac tissues. Therefore the study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the formulation Partharishta via the expression of Nrf2 gene in ischemia induced H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cells when preconditioned with Partharishta. METHODS: Partharishta was prepared in accordance with the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). To evaluate the extent of cell viability the Partharishta pretreated H9C2 cell lines were subjected to MTT Assay. As confirmatory assays for antioxidant activity, an invitro ROS measurement assay and Reverse transcriptase PCR Analysis to confirm the expression of Nrf2 gene against oxidative stress was conducted. RESULTS: On MTT Assay the cells pretreated with 25µg/ml of dessicated Partharishta provided an average cell viability of 85.12%. The confirmatory Assays conducted in the cells at this concenteration showed that the ROS production is relatively low and the Nrf2 gene against oxidative stress was expressed in these cells. CONCLUSION: These findings of the present in-vitro study reveal that the formulation Partharishta possess significant antioxidant as well as the free radical scavenging activity and therefore may be considered as one of the good sources of natural cardioprotective formulation.