Ameliorative effect of Aegle marmelos leaf extract on early stage alloxan-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats

Objective: The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is complex, and the therapeutic options available to treat DCM are limited. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Rutaceae) leaf extract on early stage DCM in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (150-200 g) by injecting alloxan (150 mg kg−1; i.p.). Ethanol extract of A. marmelos leaves was administered at varying doses (100, 200, and 400 mg kg−1) and tolbutamide (100 mg kg−1) as standard. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) were determined by standard methods. Results: A. marmelos extract (AME) was found to decrease the levels of FBG, total cholesterol, TBARS, LDH and CK, and increase the levels of GSH, CAT and SOD dose dependently as compared to diabetic control groups. The maximum dose-dependent decrease in TBARS (63.46%), LDH (34.04%), CK (53.14%), and increase in GSH (64.91%), CAT (59.34%), SOD (69.65%) was evident at an optimum dose of 200 mg kg−1. Histopathological studies revealed salvage in the morphological derangements as indicated by absence of necrosis and marked decrease in inflammatory cells in AME-treated groups as compared to diabetic control. Conclusions: The present investigations conclude that treatment with AME attenuates the severity and improves the myocardium in the early stages of alloxan-induced DCM at a dose of 200 mg kg−1.