Beneficial Effect of d-Limonene against Experimentally Induced Myocardial Infarction

Anandakumar Pandi^1*, Vanitha Manickam Kalappan^2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia.
²Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai-113, India.

A B S T R A C T
Myocardial infarction (MI) is an increasingly common cause of heart failure. d-Limonene is the most abundant monocyclic monoterpene in orange peel oil. Limonene is found in the essential oils of citrus fruits and many other plant species. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of d-limonene on serum marker enzymes, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system during isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. Rats were induced with isoproterenol (150 mg/kg body weight) and the changes in lipid peroxidation, serum marker enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase and alanine trasaminase) and antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase, catalase and reduced glutathione) were studied.  These changes were compared with the d-limonene pre-treatment (10mg/kg body weight). Treatment with d-limonene (10 mg/kg body weight) markedly decreased lipid peroxidation, serum marker enzymes and increased the levels of cellular antioxidants. In conclusion, these findings indicate the protective effect of d-limonene against isoproterenol induced experimental myocardial infarction.               
Keywords: Isoproterenol, d-limonene, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, serum markers.