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

Abstract

Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor of many cardiovascular diseases. Several cardiovascular protective properties of <i>Cymbopogon proximus</i> have been reported. However, no reports investigating the direct effect of <i>C. proximus</i> essential oil on the heart are available. The goal of this study was to explore the cardioprotective effect of <i>C. proximus</i> on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Male albino rats were administered <i>C. proximus</i> 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 <i>C. proximus</i> 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, <i>C. proximus</i> 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 <i>C. proximus</i> essential oil conferred cardio-protection against isoproterenol- induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.