Hawthorn Leaf Flavonoids Protect against Diabetes-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Rats via PKC-α Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVES: DCM has become one of the main reasons of death in diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to explore the hawthorn leaf flavonoids (HLF) protective effect against diabetes-induced cardiac injury and the underlying mechanisms in experimental rats. METHODS: Experimental diabetic model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) in rats after feeding with high-fat diet for 8 weeks. The diabetic rats received a 16-week treatment of different doses of HLF (50, 100, and 200). The morphological changes of myocardial cells were observed by light microscope; the concentration of antioxidant indicator and TNF-α and the expression of PKC-α mRNA, PKC-α, and NF-κB proteins were assessed as well. RESULTS: STZ-induced diabetes mellitus prompted blood glucose, cardiac injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation, accompanied with suppressed body weight. On the contrary, HLF administration improved body weight and blood glucose and attenuated myocardial structural abnormalities in diabetic rats. In addition, HLF decreased MDA level and enhanced SOD activities, inhibited TNF-α expression, and downregulated PKC-α mRNA, PKC-α, and NF-κB which were induced by diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: HLF has a protective effect against diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats. The mechanism may be involved in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation via inactivation of the PKC-α signaling pathway.