The heart-protective mechanism of Qishaowuwei formula on murine viral myocarditis induced by CVB3.

Abstract

AIM OF STUDY:

The heart-protective effect and mechanism of Qishaowuwei formula (QSW), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula composed of Radix Astragali, Radix Paeoniae Rubra and Fructus Schisandrae was investigated on murine model of viral myocarditis (VMC) induced by Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Mice were randomly divided into infected control group, QSW high dose group, QSW medium dose group, QSW low dose group and Vitamin C plus Ribavirin treatment group. 50 mice were included in each group. The day of virus inoculation was defined as day 0 and the drug treatment continued once a day for 14 days. Mice were sacrificed on days 3, 7, 14, 21 postinoculation (p.i.). The histopathological changes of myocardium, CVB3 RNA copies in the myocardium, cardiomycytic apoptosis, the serum level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and the phenotype of T lymphocytes subsets in peripheral blood was analyzed.

RESULTS:

QSW treatment significantly increase the survival rate (p<0.05) in VMC model. Histopathology and flow cytometry inspection revealed low ratio of cardiomyocytes necrosis and apoptosis in QSW treated mice with dose dependent manner. The cardiomyocytic ultra-structure observed by transmission electron microscope also supported the above results. The ameliorated tissue damage was consistent with reduced CVB3 copy numbers detected by real-time PCR in the myocardium of QSW treated mice. The antioxidant effect of QSW was proved by elevated activity of SOD and reduced level of MDA in the serum. Furthermore, the disturbed balance of CD4+ and CD8+ subsets in peripheral blood was restored.

CONCLUSION:

These results demonstrated QSW had potent protective effect against CVB3-induced heart injury and this effect might be mediated by its inhibition on viral replication, antioxidant activity and immunoregulation mechanism.

• Authors: Liu Fengqin, Wang Yulin, Zhu Xiaoxin, Jin Youpeng, Chen Yan, Wang Qing-qing, Chang Hong, Song Jia, Huang Lei
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 127 Issue 2 Pg. 221-8 (Feb 03 2010) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 19932162 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cardiotonic Agents
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Plant Extracts

Topics

• Animals
• Cardiotonic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Coxsackievirus Infections (pathology, prevention & control, virology)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Enterovirus B, Human (drug effects, pathogenicity)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Myocarditis (pathology, prevention & control, virology)
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Plant Roots (chemistry)
• Random Allocation