Objective: To observe the effect of beta-asarone on adriamycin-induced cardiomyocyte injury in suckling mouse. Method: Cardiomyocytes of neonate rat were cultivated for 72 hours and randomly divided into normal control group

adriamycin(ADR

2 mg·L-1) model group

and beta-asarone(10

20

40 mg·L-1) dose groups. MTT colorimetric method was deployed to detect cardiocyte survival rate

activities of medium lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)

superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) were detected

and protein expression of B cell lymphoma/lewkmia-2(Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax) were detected by immune histochemical method. Result: Compared with normal control group

model group ADR cardiomyocyte shrinkage deformation

irregular

beat rhythm irregularities

frequency obviously slow down

numbers of survival cells were decreased

the leakage of LDH was increased; SOD activity was decreased; the contents of MDA were increased; protein expressions of Bcl-2 were reduce

protein expressions of Bax were increased (P <0.01 or P <0.05). And compared with ADR model groupand ADR model group

each dose group of beta-asarone had no changes in cardiomyocytes cell pulsation frequency

present centrality synchronization pulsing; cardiomyocytes survival rate was increased; the leakages of LDH was decreased;and the activity of SOD was increased; contents of LDH and MDA were decreased; protein expression of Bcl-2 was increased

protein expression of Bax were reduced (P<0.01 or P <0.05). Conclusion: Beta-asarone protects mice from adriamycin-induced cardio-toxicity by reduction of oxygen free radicals and apoptosis in mouse cardiac tissues.