Background and aims: The cardiac angiogenesis is one of the complications of diabetes. The oxidative stress occurs when there is animbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant defense of the body. In diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia inducesincreased oxidative stress through biological processes. Diabetes is also associated with reduced antioxidant defense by reducingglutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.
Rosa damascena Mill has antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate theeffects of hydroalcoholic extract of R. damascena Mill on cardiac angiogenesis in diabetic rats.Methods: In this experimental study carried out in ۲۰۱۶, a total of ۴۸ adult male Wistar rats (۱۹۰-۲۰۰ g) were randomly divided into ۸groups (n = ۶) including control, extracts (۲۰۰, ۴۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg), diabetic, and diabetic plus extracts (۲۰۰, ۴۰۰, and ۱۰۰۰ mg/kg).Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (۵۰ mg/kg) and the rats were gavaged with different dosesof extract for ۳۰ days. At the end of the treatment, serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined by enzymelinkedimmunosorbent assay and the rat hearts were removed for immunohistochemistry study.Results: The treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of R. damascene Mill had no significant effect on cardiac capillary density [F (۷,۴۰) = ۰.۵, P > ۰.۰۵] and the serum levels of VEGF [F (۷, ۴۰) = ۰.۴۰۶, P > ۰.۰۵]. However, there was no significant difference in blood glucoselevel in extract groups compared to control rats as well as diabetic plus extract groups compared to diabetic rats [F (۷,۴۰) = ۰.۷۸۷, P > ۰.۰۵].Conclusion: According to our results, the hydroalcoholic extract of R. damascene Mill had no effect on cardiac angiogenesis in the normaland diabetic subjects. These findings were probably due to the insufficient amounts of effective ingredients, especially flavonoids, in thisplant, or the duration of extract administration.