Potential therapeutic effect of Salvia coccinea leaf extract in chronic disorders: Myocardial infarction, cataract, and arthritis in rat

Aqueous extract from Salvia coccinea leaf (AESL) has been shown its unique anti-oxidant effect via Nuclear factor (NF)-kappa (κ)B pathway in human monocytic THP-1 ​cells and pharmacological effect on inflammatory diseases like diabetes in rats. Using AESL, which possess antioxidant activity by scavenging radicals and decreasing oxidative stress, would be a promising strategy for the treatment of other inflammatory disorders like myocardial infarction, arthritis, and cataract. This study was designed to evaluate the ameliorating effects of AESL on isoproterenol (Iso)-induced myocardium infarction (MI), selenite-induced cataractogenesis, and complete Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats. In this study, AESL ameliorated pathological changes in Iso-induced MI heart muscles and Electro Cardio Gram pattern, 35–80 ​% protection of the cataractogenesis, and prevented the apoptosis induced by selenite in the rat lens. Both pre and post-treatment of AESL (600 ​mg/kg, bw) showed no swelling of the joint and, 35 days treatment showed significant prevention against bony destruction as depicted by less narrowing of joint spaces and soft tissue swelling when compared with control rats. Oral administration of AESL inhibited the Iso-induced increase in serum and myocardial lipid peroxidation, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, creatine kinase, troponin-I, and troponin-T, and lactate dehydrogenase of myocardium infarction rats. Significant increases in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and a reduced level of glutathione, were observed in AESL treated cataract rat lens. The results demonstrate that AESL is useful in, in addition to diabetes, controlling myocardium infarction, cataracts, and arthritis.