OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ethyl acetate extract from Chrysanthemum Morifolium Ramat (CME) on experimental arrhythmia induced by ischemia/reperfusion or aconitine in rats and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSArrhythmia model in intact rat was induced by aconitine (30 microg/kg body weight, i.v.). In isolated Langendorff perfused rat hearts, regional ischemia and reperfusion was induced by ligation and release of left anterior descending artery. The ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT), effective refractory period (ERP), and diastolic excitation threshold (DET) in the isolated heart were measured. The action potentials of papillary muscle in rat right ventricle were recorded by conventional glass microelectrode technique.

RESULTSCompared with control group CME significantly decreased the number and duration of ventricular tachycardia (VT); delayed the occurrence of ventricular premature beats (VPB) and VT induced by aconitine. Arrhythmia score of the CME group was lower than that in aconitine-treated group. CME markedly prolonged the ERP and increased the VFT in the isolated perfused rat hearts during ischemia and reperfusion. CME prolonged action potential duration at 50% and 90% repolarization of the right ventricular papillary muscles and decreased the maximal rate of rise of the action potential upstroke, but did not affect the resting potential, amplitude of action potential.

CONCLUSIONCME can reduce myocardial vulnerability and exerts its antiarrhythmic effects induced by aconitine or ischemia/reperfusion, which may be related to its prolongation of action potential duration and effective refractory period that enhance the electrophysiological stability of myocardiaium.