Patients suffering from cholelithiasis have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications, particularly ischemic myocardial disease. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), already used in clinical practice for the treatment of cholelithiasis and related conditions, has proven antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of UDCA pre-treatment on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups. Animals were pre-treated for 10 days with propylene glycol + saline on days 9 and 10 (control), 10 days with propylene glycol + isoprenaline on days 9 and 10 (I group), 10 days with UDCA + saline on days 9 and 10 (UDCA group), and 10 days with UDCA + isoprenaline on days 9 and 10 (UDCA + I group). UDCA pre-treatment significantly reduced values of high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) cardiac markers (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). The value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was also decreased in the UDCA + I group compared to the I group (p < 0.001). UDCA also significantly increased glutathione (GSH) levels, while showing a tendency to increase levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The level of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) expression, a key regulatory gene of inflammation, was diminished when UDCA was administered. A reduction of cardiac damage was also observed in the UDCA pre-treated group. In conclusion, UDCA pre-treatment showed a cardioprotective effect on isoprenaline-induced myocardial injury in rats, primarily by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.

Carvacrol (CRV) is the main compound of essential oils extracted primarily from Thymus and Origanum species. Its various biological activities were confirmed: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tumour, antinematodal, and vasorelaxant action. Although vasodilation mediated by CRV was previously described, the exact mechanism of its action has not yet been established. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate CRV vasoactivity on human umbilical arteries (HUA) and the different pathways involved in its mechanism of action using the tissue bath methodology. CRV caused a significant decrease in vascular tension of 5-HT-pre-contracted umbilical arteries, with EC₅₀ of 442.13 ± 33.8 µmol/L (mean ± standard error of the mean—SEM). At 300 µmol/L, CRV shifted downward the 5-HT concentration–response curve with a statistical significance of p < 0.001 obtained for the four highest concentrations. At a concentration of 1 mmol/L, CRV completely abolished BaCl₂-induced contraction in Ca²⁺-free Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate solution and the BAY K 8644-induced contraction in Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate solution ( p < 0.001). Isopentenyl pyrophosphate, the antagonist of TRPV₃ channel, was able to decrease the efficacy of CRV ( p < 0.001). The blocking of L-type Ca²⁺ channels on smooth muscle cells is the most probable mechanism of CRV-induced vasorelaxation. However, the role of TRPV₃ channels in CRV-induced vasodilation of HUA cannot be excluded either.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome characterised by catecholamine-induced oxidative tissue damage. Punica granatum, a fruit-bearing tree, is known to have high polyphenolic content and has been proven to be a potent antioxidant. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pomegranate peel extract (PoPEx) pre-treatment on isoprenaline-induced takotsubo-like myocardial injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomised into four groups. Animals in the PoPEx(P) and PoPEx + isoprenaline group (P + I) were pre-treated for 7 days with 100 mg/kg/day of PoPEx. On the sixth and the seventh day, TTS-like syndrome was induced in rats from the isoprenaline(I) and P + I groups by administering 85 mg/kg/day of isoprenaline. PoPEx pre-treatment led to the elevation of superoxide dismutase and catalase (p < 0.05), reduced glutathione (p < 0.001) levels, decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.001), H₂O₂, O₂⁻ (p < 0.05), and NO₂⁻ (p < 0.001), in the P + I group, when compared to the I group. In addition, a significant reduction in the levels of cardiac damage markers, as well as a reduction in the extent of cardiac damage, was found. In conclusion, PoPEx pre-treatment significantly attenuated the isoprenaline-induced myocardial damage, primarily via the preservation of endogenous antioxidant capacity in the rat model of takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy.

Background: Myocardial injury (MI) is characterized by an increased level of at least one cardiac troponin. Experimental MI can be induced by isoprenaline, a β-adrenergic agonist, and it can lead to heart failure (HF). Liraglutide is glucagon-like 1 peptide receptor agonist used in diabetes management, but it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, which can be beneficial in treatment of HF. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of liraglutide on isoprenaline-induced MI and prevention of HF. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: Con—received saline the first 2 days + saline the next 7 days; Iso—isoprenaline the first 2 days + saline the next 7 days; Lir—saline the first 2 days + liraglutide the next 7 days; Iso + Lir—isoprenaline the first 2 days + liraglutide the next 7 days. On day 10, blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis and oxidative stress marker evaluation, and hearts were isolated for pathohistological analysis. Cardiac function was assessed by electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (ECHO). Results: Liraglutide treatment significantly attenuated oxidative stress, repaired ECG and ECHO parameters, and mitigated myocardial morphological changes induced by isoprenaline. Conclusions: Liraglutide restores cardiac function in isoprenaline-induced HF.

The pharmacological potential of Lamiaceae plants is primarily linked to their high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids, known for strong antioxidant properties. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of ten widely used Lamiaceae herbs—oregano, lavender, basil, savory, garden thyme, wild thyme, sage, rosemary, lemon balm, and mint—prepared as traditional infusions and microwave-assisted extracts. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated using spectrophotometric assays, and total phenolics and flavonoids were quantified via spectrophotometry and HPLC. Chemometric analysis (PCA) was applied to explore correlations among antioxidant parameters. The results demonstrated excellent antioxidant activity across all samples. The IC50 for DPPH radicals was in the range from 3.73(0.13) to 8.03(0.17) μg/mL and that for ABTS radicals was from 2.89(0.12) to 8.55(0.34). The CUPRAC antioxidant assay delivered values in the range from 351.93(11.85) to 1129.68(44.46) μg TE/mg DE. The FRAP method produced values from 1.27(0.03) to 6.60(0.26) μmol Fe/mg DE. The presence of gallic acid was detected in all examined samples, with lemon balm and lavender exhibiting the highest concentrations across both applied extraction methods. Notably, lavender showed especially high levels of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and chlorogenic acid. Microwave-assisted extraction generally yielded higher levels of bioactive compounds compared to infusion. These findings highlight the potential of Lamiaceae herbal extracts, particularly those obtained through microwave-assisted extraction, as valuable sources of dietary antioxidants for everyday use.

Background/Aim: There have been different experimental conditions for in vitro studies on human umbilical arteries (HUA) in tissue bath system. This diversity was mainly reflected in variables such as stretching tension, incubation period and initial constriction challenging with potassium (KCl). The aim of the study was to establish optimal experimental conditions which will provide better responsiveness of HUA preparations, as well as to examine the impact of 24 h cold storage on viability and responsiveness of HUA to KCl and serotonin. Methods: The KCl-induced constrictions at different stretching tensions (0.5 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g, 4.0 g), incubation times (30 min, 60 min, 120 min), and after multiple initial constriction challenging were compared. Dose response curves for serotonin were obtained under different conditions (1.0 g and 60 min vs. 2.0 g and 120 min). The influence of 24 h cold storage on KCland serotonininduced vasoconstriction of HUA preparations was examined as well. Results: The strongest constrictions induced by serotonin or KCl were obtained when preparations were adjusted at 2.0 g and incubated for 120 min. The KCl-induced constrictions observed after 120 min were statistically higher (p < 0.05) when preparations were challenged three times (30 min, 60 min, 120 min), compared to those challenged only once. The preparations that were stored at 4 ⁰C for 24 h showed significantly stronger serotonin-induced constrictions (p < 0.01). The cold storage had no influence on KCl-induced constriction. Conclusion: For performing in vitro studies on HUA preparations in tissue bath, we propose stretching tension of 2.0 g, incubation period of 120 min and multiple initial constriction challenging with KCl as optimal experimental condition. We also showed that HUA preparations retained functional viability even after 24 h of cold storage.