Chrysin Attenuates Myocardial Cell Apoptosis in Mice.

Abstract

Myocardial infarction (MI), induced by ischemia and hypoxia of the coronary arteries, presents as myocardial necrosis. Patients often experience intense, prolonged retrosternal pain that is unrelieved by rest or nitrate therapy and is frequently associated with high blood myocardial enzyme levels. Physical effort may exacerbate this anxiety, increasing the likelihood of life-threatening consequences such as arrhythmias, shock, or cardiac failure. Chrysin, a natural flavonoid primarily found in honey and propolis, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antiviral properties. This study utilized MI models and various analytical techniques, including Western blotting, immunofluorescence, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and autodocking, to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of chrysin in molecular interactions. Our results demonstrated that Chrysin alleviates apoptosis in cardiomyocytes by decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and suppressing caspase-3 activation, actions facilitated by PPAR-γ activation and consequent overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, chrysin mitigates cardiac fibrosis by downregulating TGF-β1, collagen I, and α-SMA expression. These effects markedly diminish infarct size and improve heart function in ischemia-reperfusion damage models, ascribed to chrysin's activation of PPAR-γ and SIRT3, together with the regulation of β-catenin pathways. The preclinical data presented in this research establish a foundation for forthcoming clinical studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of chrysin in patients with myocardial infarction. This may facilitate the development of a novel treatment approach for treating MI.