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Origanum majorana L. Extract Protects Against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats

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Abstract

Coronary artery diseases are the major causes of disabilities and death worldwide. Evidence from the literature has demonstrated that Origanum majorana L. (marjoram) acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and assists in hormonal regulation. However, there is limited scientific evidence describing the signaling pathways associated with the marjoram’s positive effect on cardiac injury. Therefore, we aimed to understand the mechanistic protective effects of marjoram on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial injury in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into six groups. Marjoram was administrated by oral gavage and isoproterenol was administrated subcutaneously (ISO; 85 mg/kg). Heart weight, cardiac enzymes, inflammatory, and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured. The ISO-induced cardiac injury was confirmed by the significant increase in the levels of cardiac enzymes (P value < 0.05), whereas pre-treatment with marjoram normalized these cardiac injury parameters. We also determined that marjoram had a protective effect against ISO-induced increase in C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, IL-13, and TNF-α. Additionally, marjoram significantly decreased cardiac thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels (P value < 0.05) and protected against ISO-induced oxidative stress. We have demonstrated that marjoram decreased both cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation, thus establishing the beneficial effects of marjoram on ISO-induced cardiac injury in rats.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

CVDs:

Cardiovascular diseases

ACUC:

Animal Care and Use Committee

IL:

Interleukin

CRP:

C-reactive protein

CK:

Creatine kinase

LDH:

Lactate dehydrogenase

AST:

Aspartate transaminase

ALT:

Alanine transaminase

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

TBARS:

Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

ISO:

Isoproterenol

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Deanship of Research at Jordan University of Science and Technology to AR [Project Number: 451/2019]. We would like to thank Professor Bradley McConnell (Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston) for proofreading the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

Financial support was via grant number 451/2019 from the Deanship of Research at the Jordan University of Science and Technology to AR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Abeer M. Rababa’h

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Miya A. Alzoubi

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  1. Abeer M. Rababa’h
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  2. Miya A. Alzoubi
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Contributions

AR: conceptualization; AR and MA designed the study; AR provided the plant; AR and MA conducted the experimental work; AR and MA drafted the manuscript; AR and MA conducted the field research; AR contributed new reagents or analytic tools; AR and MA performed data analysis and interpreted the results; AR and MA contributed to the discussion. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Abeer M. Rababa’h.

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Rababa’h, A.M., Alzoubi, M.A. Origanum majorana L. Extract Protects Against Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats. Cardiovasc Toxicol 21, 543–552 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-021-09645-2

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