
Effect of Thymus Vulgaris Extract against Toxic Effects of Diabetes on the Coronary Heart Angiogenesis of Rats
CF01-CF04
Correspondence
Mohammad Reza Salahshoor,
PhD, Department of Anatomical Sciences, Medical School, Kermanshah University
of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
E-mail: reza.salahshoor@yahoo.com
Introduction: Thymus vulgaris (T. vulgaris), with its antioxidant properties has therapeutic applications. Diabetes causes disruption in process of cardiac angiogenesis.
Aim: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of T. vulgaris against destructive effects of diabetes in the field of coronary angiogenesis in rats.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 64 male rats were randomly sorted into 8 groups: 1) control group; 2-4) three extract groups (4.5, 9 and 18 mg/kg of T. vulgaris); 5) diabetic group; and 6-8) three diabetic + extract groups (4.5, 9 and 18 mg/kg of T. vulgaris) from April 2019 to November 2019. Diabetes was induced and various doses of T. vulgaris were administered for 60 consecutive days intraperitoneally. The serum level of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) was determined by ELISA method, Nitrite Oxide (NO) measured by Griess assay, and the cardiac capillary density evaluated by immunohistochemistry assay. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA test.
Results: The values of VEGF, nitrite oxide, glucose and capillary density reduced significantly in diabetic group compared to the control group (p<0.05). No significant differences were detected among the studied variables (VEGF, nitrite oxide, glucose and capillary density) in all extract groups, compared to the control group as well as diabetic + extract groups compared to the diabetic rats (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of T. vulgaris represented no cardiac angiogenesis effects in normal and diabetic groups. This is due to the insufficient amounts of active biochemical ingredients, especially flavonoids in T. vulgaris.