20th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Hawthorn Extract is not Cardioprotective in an Anoxic Cardiomyocyte Preparation
Victoria L. Moscardelli
Dr. Timothy P. Geisbuhler (A.T. Still University) and Dr. Laura Fielden, Faculty Mentors
Hawthorn extract (from the hawthorn tree, Crataegus oxycantha) has been shown to protect the heart against ischemic damage. Hawthorn extract contains a number of compounds which are potentially cardioprotective. Our hypothesis was that hawthorn extract would reduce cellular damage to cardiac cells under anoxic conditions and decrease injury due to reoxygenation. Freshly prepared cardiac myocytes were subjected to aerobic or anoxic conditions for 0, 45, or 60 minutes with or without hawthorn extract; each anoxic preparation was then reoxygenated for 5 minutes. Aerobic preparations began with 70% rod-shaped cells and 80% viable. Anoxia for 60 min caused a decrease in both rod count (33 ± 4%) but not much change in viability (68 ± 4%), as expected. Hawthorn extract did not protect the cells from this damage at either 80 µg/mL (25 ± 4% rods, 60 ± 4% viable) or 160 µg/mL (19 ± 4% rods, 66 ± 4% viable). Hawthorn extract is therefore not cardioprotective as an oxyradical scavenger, but may in fact be a phosphodiesterase inhibitor.
Keywords: Hawthorn Extract, Cardiacmyocytes, Ischemia
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 4-1
Location: OP Lobby
Time: 4:15 pm