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Effect of the total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem on cardiac contractile function and intracellular calcium cycling regulation

Authors Wang, Min; Xu, Xudong; Xu, Huibo; Wen, Fuchun; Zhang, Xiaopo; Sun, Hong; Yao, Fan; Sun, Guibo; Sun, Xiaobo

Journal JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY , FEB 10 2020,:248

DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112280 PubMed 31600560

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: Total saponins of Aralia elata (Miq) Seem (AS) from the Chinese traditional herb Longya Aralia chinensis L. can improve cardiac function, although the active mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study aimed to determine the direct effect of AS on cardiac function in dogs and the effects on Ca2+ transient and contractions in isolated rat cardiomyocytes.Material and Methods: In anesthetized dogs, hemodynamic indexes and myocardial oxygen consumption were determined before and after AS was administered. In isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes, contractile and intracellular Ca2+ properties were determined simultaneously in real time by using an IonOptix MyoCam system.Results: Our results showed that AS directly induced a positive inotropic effect and improved coronary blood flow and energy metabolism, indicating that AS induced a beneficial effect to treat myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Moreover, AS increased sarcomere shortening, maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (+/- dL/dt), amplitude of [Ca2+](i) transients and SERCA activity in a concentration-dependent manner. PKC epsilon was also activated after the cells were treated with AS.Conclusion: These findings revealed the positive inotropic effect of AS on canine myocardium and isolated rat cardiomyocytes. This effect was possibly associated with an increase in amplitude of the [Ca2+](i) transient and PKC epsilon-dependent signaling pathway. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Species covered 楤木(变种) Aralia chinensis 辽东楤木 Aralia elata