Promoting cardioprotection with fenugreek: Insights from CoCl2 -induced hypoxia in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

• Main Authors: Hanafi, Noorul Izzati, Mohamed, Maizan, Kuttulebbai Naina Mohamed Salam, Sirajudeen, Saidan, Noor Hafizoh, Hua, Gan Siew, Abdul Kadir Pahirulzaman, Khomaizon, Rao, Pasupuleti Visweswara
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: University of Medical Sciences 2023
• Subjects: R Medicine (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/108002/7/108002_Promoting%20cardioprotection%20with%20fenugreek.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/108002/13/108002_Promoting%20cardioprotection%20with%20fenugreek_Scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/108002/; https://dx.doi.org/10.22038/IJBMS.2023.71521.15547

Objective(s): This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of fenugreek on CoCl2 -induced hypoxia in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Materials and Methods: Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats aged 0–2 days and incubated with various concentrations of fenugreek (10-320 µg/ml) and CoCl2 -induced hypoxia for different durations (24, 48, and 72 hr). Cell viability, calcium signaling, beating rate, and gene expression were evaluated. Results: Fenugreek treatments did not cause any toxicity in cardiomyocytes. At a concentration of 160 µg/ml for 24 hr, fenugreek protected the heart against CoCl2 -induced hypoxia, as evidenced by reduced expression of caspases (-3, -6, -8, and -9) and other functional genes markers, such as HIF-1α, Bcl-2, IP3R, ERK5, and GLP-1r. Calcium signaling and beating rate were also improved in fenugreektreated cardiomyocytes. In contrast, CoCl2 treatment resulted in up-regulation of the hypoxia gene HIF-1α and apoptotic caspases gene (-3, -9, -8, -12), and down-regulation of Bcl-2 activity. Conclusion: Fenugreek treatment at a concentration of 160 µg/ml was not toxic to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and protected against CoCl2 -induced hypoxia. Furthermore, fenugreek improved calcium signaling and beating rate and altered gene expression. Fenugreek may be a potential therapeutic agent for promoting cardioprotection against hypoxia-induced injuries