Ilexsaponin A, isolated from the root of Ilex pubescens, attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury through anti-apoptotic pathway. Ilexsaponin A can reduce myocardial infarct size, lower the serum levels of LDH, AST and CK-MB, increase cellular viability and inhibit apoptosis in hypoxia/reoxygenation cardiomyocytes[1].

Ilexsaponin A significantly reduces proapoptotic proteins including caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and bax and increases anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 in hypoxia/reoxygenation cardiomyocytes. Ilexsaponin A treatment increases the expression levels of p-Akt in hypoxia/reoxygenation cellular model and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion animal model[1].

Ilexsaponin A (10 or 40 mg/kg) reduce the myocardial infarct size in a dose dependent manner in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 280-320 g[1].

[1]. Zhang SW, et al. Ilexsaponin A attenuates ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury through anti-apoptotic pathway. PLoS One. 2017 Feb 9;12(2):e0170984.