Cardioprotective effects of pomegranate juice against ischemia and reperfusion in isolated rat heart

Background: The literature regarding the cardiovascular effects of pomegranate has been expanding during recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effect of pomegranate juice following ischemia and reperfusion. Methods: The animals were anesthetized with thiopental sodium (60 mg kg^-1 BW) and their hearts were removed and perfused using Langendorff technique. In the first stage of the experiment, pomegranate juice was dissolved in Krebs solution. The first group was the normoxic control; the remaining 4 groups underwent 30 min global ischemia followed by 90 min reperfusion and received pomegranate juice at 0, 1, 2, and 4% in Krebs solution, respectively. The heart rate, coronary perfusion pressure, left ventricular developed pressure, rate pressure product (RPP), and dp/dtmax were monitored throughout the experiment. The infarct size was also measured via staining with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. In the second stage, the rats received either placebo or pomegranate juice (4 ml kg^-1 BW), daily, for 3 weeks. The hearts isolated from these animals were then studied as mentioned earlier, but no juice was added to the perfusion solution. Results: The hearts treated with the juice showed significantly higher percentages of RPP and increased dp/dtmax during reperfusion, compared to the control group. Moreover, these hearts showed smaller infarct sizes. In the second stage of the study, all studied hemodynamics were significantly higher in the test group both before and after ischemia. The infarct size was also smaller in the test group. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest strong cardioprotective effects of pomegranate juice against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.