Quercetin protects the myocardium from the effects of ketamine
The Journal of V N Karazin Kharkiv National University series Medicine – October 31, 2025
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Quercetin, administered before ketamine, significantly protects the heart from damage in rats. In a study involving 24 male rats, quercetin reduced harmful substances like peroxynitrite by 44% and superoxide production by 53%. It also decreased nitric oxide synthase activity by 48% and increased antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase activity by 13%. These findings suggest that quercetin enhances the heart's defense against oxidative stress during ketamine treatment, potentially preventing cardiotoxic effects associated with this common anesthetic used in both human and veterinary medicine.
Abstract
Background. The water soluble form of quercetin, corvitin, may potentially be useful for preventing complications of short-term ketamine analgesia in children and adults, as well as preventing myocardial damage in the treatment of depression and post- traumatic stress disorder. Purpose – was to determine the effect of quercetin on the myocardium of rats under conditions of ketamine-induced cardiotoxicity. Materials and Methods. Experiments were performed on 24 white sexually mature male rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups: control; rats that were injected with corvitin intraperitoneally at a dose of 5.2 mg/100 g; rats that were injected with ketamine intraperitoneally at a dose of 60 mg/kg with an interval of every 10 min for 3 hours (19 injections) and a group of animals that were injected with corvitin before ketamine administration. Results. The administration of quercetin 10 min before modeling ketamine-induced cardiotoxicity led to a decrease in total NO-synthase activity in the rat myocardium by 1.48 times, inducible NO-synthase activity by 1.5 times, arginase by 1.21 times, peroxynitrite content by 1.44 times, nitrite by 1.67 times, superoxide anion radical production by 1.53 times, catalase activity by 1.06 times, malone dialdegyde content by 1.68 times, diene conjugates by 1.2 times, triene conjugates by 1.19 times, octadiene conjugates by 1.59 times, free L-hydroxyproline by 1.16 times and sulfide anion by 1.15 times and an increase in superoxide dismutase activity by 1.13 times and nitrosothiols content by 1.54 times. compared to the group of rats in which ketamine- induced cardiotoxicity was simulated (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Administration of the bioflavonoid quercetin against the background of ketamine-induced cardiotoxicity prevents cardiomyocyte damage by activating antioxidant defense in the myocardium and reducing the production of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals, which prevents lipid peroxidation and collagenolysis, normalizing the functioning of the nitric oxide cycle.