25. Myocardial protective effect of Sheng Mai Shan (SMS) and a lignan-enriched extracts of Frutus Schisandrae, in vivo and ex vivo

P.C. LI, D.H.F. MAK, M.K.T. POON, S.P. IP and K.M. KO

Effects of Sheng Mai San (SMS), a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, and the lignan-enriched extract of Frutus Schisandrae (FS), an antioxidant component of SMS, were examined in an in vivo model of myocardial infarction and an ex vivo model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Pretreatment with SMS (12 g/kg/day × 3, p.o.) or FS extract (0.8 g/kg/day × 3, p.o.) was found to protect against the isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats and the ischemia-reperfusion injury in isolated perfused hearts prepared from similar beneficial effect on the myocardium. The myocardial protection afforded by SMS pretreatment is likely, at least in part, mediated by the FS-derived antioxidant activity.