Ameliorative Effect of Tecoma stans Extract on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy against Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Wistar Rats

The pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is complex, and the therapeutic options available to treat DCM are limited. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Tecoma stans on diabetic cardiomyopathy against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intravenous injection of (Streptozotocin 45 mg/kg) in male wistar rats. Blood pressure, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose apolipoprotein B and lipids as well as heart weight, caspase-3, sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na + -K + ATPase) and DNA laddering were determined. The obtained result showed that the administration of ethanolic extract of Tecoma stans (120 mg/kg/p.o.) significantly ( P < 0.01) reduced myocyte loss by suppressing the levels of cardiac caspase-3, DNA laddering; mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate as well as serum LDH, glucose, apolipoprotein B and lipids levels. Further, it augmented the heart weight and cardiac Na+ K+ ATPase activity in diabetic rats. Finally it was concluded that the ethanolic extract of Tecoma stans posses significant anti-apoptotic potential on Streptozotocin induced diabetic cardiomyopathy.