Evaluate the protective effects of some antioxidant agent (β-carotene and Curcumin) against Monosodium Glutamate-induced cardiopathy in male albino rats.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major factor of morbidity and mortality in adult man. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of β-carotene and curcumin against Monosodium Glutamate induced cardiotoxicity in 40 male albino rats (weighing 150-200 g) divided into four groups, each of ten rats. The GI (Control) injected intraperitoneally with distilled water (0.6ml) three times weekly for three weeks; GII (MSG) was injected intraperitoneally with 4g/ kg/day of MSG. The GIII (β carotene + MSG) and GIV (Curcumin + MSG) were pretreated with β carotene (10mg /kg) and curcumin (60mg/kg) respectively by injected intraperitoneal three times weekly for three weeks one hour before MSG injection. Results showed significant (p<0.01) increase in the activity of AST, ALT, LDH, CK and cTnI in serum compared with normal control rats and after pretreatment with β carotene (10mg/kg) and curcumin (60mg/kg) three times weekly for three weeks show significantly (p<0.01) decrease the activity of these enzymes compared to MSG injected alone in rats but there is still significant (P<0.01) increase in comparison with the normal rats.In homogenate heart tissues, showed considerable (p<0.01) decrease in the levels of GSH and SOD and increases in the levels of MDA after rats injected with MSG compared to normal control rats three times weekly for three weeks. Pretreatment with β carotene and curcumin separately to MSG- injected rats caused significantly (p<0.01) increased the levels of GSH and SOD compared to MSG injected alone in rats but there is still significant (P< 0.01) decrease in comparison with the normal rats. However, it showed significant (p<0.01) decreases in the levels of MDA compared to MSG injected alone and still significant (P< 0.01) increases in comparison with the normal rats. Histopathological examination of H&E stained sections of the hearts, show normal histological features of cardiac fibers in the control group (GI). After MSG injected rats showed histopathologic changes were expressed as a focal area of coagulative necrosis of the myocardium and Karyopyknosis, hypereosinophilia and loss of striation were shown in myofibers, also, detected infiltration of macrophage in the interstitium and congestion of blood vessels can be observed. However, examination of Hx&E stained sections of the hearts of the rats pretreated with β carotene before MSG injection revealed only congestion of blood vessels with normal myofiber and the pretreated with curcumin before MSG injection showed congestion of blood vessels with more or less normal myocardial fibers.