Investigation of the profile of dry extracts of Iris hungarica leaves and rhizome to determine the cardioprotective activity in the rat model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy
Authors: Rybak Viktoria , Kerimova Gunel , Lytkin Dmytro , Mykhailenko Olha 
Published: September 2024

The search and creation of new cardioprotective drugs, especially of plant origin, with a prolonged effect and a minimum of side effects, is an urgent task to improve the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases, prevent the risk of developing complications, and increase the duration and quality of life of patients. Iris hungarica, from the Iridaceae family, has a long history of medicinal use in many countries of the world and is also recognized as a rich source of BAC.
The aim. Study of the cardioprotective effect of dry extracts of leaves and rhizomes of Iris hungarica on the rat model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy.
Materials and methods. The research was conducted on 40 white outbred female rats, which were injected intraperitoneally with a solution of doxorubicin hydrochloride at a dose of 1 mg/kg, at the rate of 0.5 mL per 100 g of the animal's body weight, according to the scheme 2 times a week for 6 weeks. The cardiotoxic effect and protective properties of potassium orotate, dry extracts of leaves and rhizomes of steppe iris were evaluated by animal survival, determination of the relative heart mass ratio, functional state of the myocardium (ECG parameters) and biochemical parameters in blood serum and heart homogenate.
Results and discussion. The analysis of indicators of the functional state of the conducting system of the heart shows that the 15-day use in the treatment of animals with doxorubicin cardiomyopathy of the dry extract of the leaves and rhizomes of Iris hungarica at a dose of 150 mg/kg demonstrates a cardioprotective effect at the initial stage. In the model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy, the dry extracts of the leaves and rhizomes of steppe iris at a dose of 150 mg/kg showed a normalizing effect on biochemical parameters in blood serum and in heart homogenate and were not inferior to the action of the comparison drug potassium orotate at a dose of 100 mg/kg.
The dry extract of the rhizomes of steppe iris revealed the most pronounced effect on metabolism in cardiomyocytes. The cardioprotective activity of the dry extract of the rhizomes of the Iris hungarica is defined as a cardioprotector - of the anabolic and antioxidant type - those that accelerate the recovery of the heart muscle, protect the heart muscle from the action of free radicals, preventing premature aging and wear.
Conclusions. In the model of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy in rats, indicators of the functional state of the conducting system of the heart of animals after the use in the treatment of animals of the dry extracts of the leaves and rhizomes of steppe iris in a dose of 150 mg/kg demonstrate a cardioprotective effect at the initial stage, a normalizing effect on biochemical indicators in the blood serum and in the homogenate heart and are not inferior to the comparison drug potassium orotate in a dose of 100 mg/kg.
The most pronounced effect of the dry extract of the rhizomes of Iris hungarica on the functional state of the myocardium and biochemical indicators in blood serum and heart homogenate was established.
 The dry extract of the rhizomes of steppe iris is a promising herbal remedy for the creation of a new drug with cardioprotective properties