Hydroalcoholic Extract from Rhizomes of Cynodon dactylon Improve Hemodynamic and Electrocardiogram Parameters in Myocardial Infarction in Rats

Cynodon dactylon is a herbal medicine of interest in Iranian traditional
medicine, which is used in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and heart failure.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of total extract of C.dactylon rhizomes
on myocardial infarction and on post myocardial infarction (MI) heart tissue injuries.
Methods: Isoproterenol (100mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously for two consecutive days
for induction of MI in rats and C.dactylon extract was administered orally twice daily
started before isoproterenol injection for 4 consecutive days.
Results: Histopathological analysis showed a marked increase in myocardial necrosis in
rats with MI (p<0.001). Treatment with C. dactylon (200 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05)
decreased myocardial necrosis. Hemodynamic variables were significantly suppressed in
MI group and treatment with C.dactylon improved the hemodynamic parameters (P<0.05).
Our electrocardiogram analysis demonstrated that C.dactylon with all doses increased R-
Amplitude and R-R Interval (p<0.05, p<0.01) which were suppressed in MI group.
Furthermore in treated groups with 100 and 200 mg/kg, P-R interval was also significantly
increased in compared to MI group.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that C.dactylon can improve hemodynamic and
electrocardiogram parameters in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction and thereby
suggest that it can be used as a cardioprotective agent in myocardial infarction