Curcumin exerts synergistic effects with ACE inhibitor during systolic function restoration after myocardial infarction in rats

Curcumin exerts synergistic effects with ACE inhibitor during systolic function restoration after myocardial infarction in rats

Syogo Kawaguchi1, Tatsuya Morimoto1, Yoichi Sunagawa2,5, Hiromichi Wada2,3, Tomohide Takaya2,4, Teruhisa Kawamura2, Ryuzo Sakata6, Takeshi Kimura4, Masatoshi Fujita5, Koji Hasegawa2,3.

  1. Division of Molecular Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan.
  2. Division of Translational Research, Kyoto Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto, Japan.
  3. Clinical Research Institute, Kyoto Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Kyoto, Japan.
  4. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
  5. Department of Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
  6. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

第13回日本心不全学会学術集会 (横浜), 2009/10/16-18.

Abstract

Purpose: We found that curcumin, a p300 histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, prevents deterioration of the systolic function in rat heart failure models in vivo. To clinically apply this novel therapy to humans, it should be clarified whether or not Cur exhibits additional effects on conventional HF therapy involving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI).

Methods: Rats were subjected to a sham operation or MI. One week later, 32 rats were randomly assigned to solvents (control), enalapril (ACEI, 10 mg/kg/day) alone, curcumin (50 mg/kg/day) alone, or curcumin plus enalapril for 6 weeks.

Results: ACEI, but not curcumin treatment, decreased the blood pressure in post-MI rats. After treatment, LVFS was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the ACEI (29%) and curcumin (29%) groups than in the vehicle group (22%). Notably, LVFS significantly (p < 0.05) increased on ACEI/Cur combination therapy (35%) compared with therapy involving either ACEI or curcumin alone. The LV wall thickness and cardiomyocyte diameter were significantly smaller in the ACEI/curcumin than the ACEI group. Moreover, perivascular fibrosis was significantly reduced in the ACEI and curcumin groups compared with the vehicle group. This reduction was further augmented by the ACEI/curcumin combination therapy.

Conclusions: Curcumin, restores the post-MI LV systolic function in rats without affecting the blood pressure. This natural non-toxic dietary compound in addition to ACEI exerts beneficial effects on LV systolic function.