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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Study on cardioprotective effects of berberine in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats
R. A. M. Jainaf Natchiya, Momin Imran Moinahemadh, Asokan Balakrishnan Ramajayam, Syed Siraj Alam Hussaini, Mohammad Muztaba, Anupama Anil Kapadnis, Shraddha Dingare, Rose Saira Ekka
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 64-76
Received on: 15/05/2026
Revised on: 29/05/2026
Accepted on: 15/06/2026
Published on: 01/07/2026
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R. A. M. Jainaf Natchiya, Momin Imran Moinahemadh, Asokan Balakrishnan Ramajayam, Syed Siraj Alam Hussaini, Mohammad Muztaba, Anupama Anil Kapadnis, Shraddha Dingare, Rose Saira Ekka( 2026).
Study on cardioprotective effects of berberine in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 4), 64-76.
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Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, largely driven by oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and dyslipidemia. The present study evaluated the cardioprotective efficacy of berberine in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats. Experimental animals were pretreated with berberine at two doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) for 14 days before ISO administration. Biochemical, antioxidant, lipid, and molecular parameters were analyzed to assess myocardial protection. ISO-induced MI significantly increased serum cardiac markers (CK-MB, LDH, AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while reducing antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH), reflecting oxidative and structural cardiac damage. Berberine treatment dose-dependently restored these parameters toward normal, confirming its potent antioxidant capacity. Histopathological analysis revealed reduced necrosis, edema, and inflammation in berberine-treated hearts. Furthermore, berberine improved lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL while elevating HDL levels. Molecular studies demonstrated downregulation of pro-apoptotic (Bax, caspase-3) and upregulation of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) gene expression, indicating inhibition of apoptosis. These findings suggest that berberine provides multifaceted cardioprotection through antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and lipid-modulating mechanisms. The study underscores berberine’s potential as a safe, natural therapeutic agent for myocardial infarction prevention and management. Berberine provides multi-targeted protection against myocardial injury by restoring redox balance, stabilizing mitochondrial function, modulating signaling pathways such as AMPK and PI3K/Akt, and maintaining lipid homeostasis. Its excellent safety profile and pharmacological efficacy suggest considerable potential for clinical translation. Future studies focusing on pharmacokinetics, formulation enhancement, and human trials could establish berberine as a cost-effective adjunct or alternative therapy for ischemic heart disease management.
Keywords
Berberine, Isoproterenol, Myocardial infarction, Oxidative stress, Antioxidant defense, Cardioprotection.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
