POSSIBLE CARDIOPROTECTIVE ACTION OF POMEGRANATE JUICE PUNICA GRANATUM   AND PROPOLIS AGAINST MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION INDUCED IN RATS.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective role of pomegranate juice alone or in combination with propolis extract against isoproterenol (ISO) induced myocardial infarction in rats.
Material and Methods: Male Wister albino rats (n=60) weighing 220-280g were divided into six groups each group contain ten rats; group I: negative control fed standard diet. Group (II-VI): Rats were injected subcutaneously with isoproterenol (150 mg/kg) for 3 days. Group III: Rats were given pomegranate juice 1ml /rat / day. Group IV: Rats were given propolis extract (50 mg/kg BW). Group V: Rats were given pomegranate juice + propolis extract. Group VI: Rats were given glyceronitrate (2.6mg/kg.bw/day).
Results: The ISO-induced myocardial infarction in untreated rats has indicated by significant (p < 0.001) elevation of cardiac marker enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and cardiac troponin I (CnI ) when compared with control group. Rats treated with pomegranate juice and propolis extracts showed highly significant (p<0.001) improvement in cardiac marker enzymes activities when compared with untreated myocardial infarction group. Histological investigation showed features of damaged muscles (atrophy, necrosis) which while it was ameliorated in treated groups with superior effect with pomegranate juice.
Conclusion: It was concluded that, pomegranate juice in combination with propolis have a potential to alleviate the oxidative stress that induce myocardial infarction and therefore reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.