Objective: 

The present study was designed to elucidate the outcome of chronic co-administration of black tea and nicotine on cardiovascular performance in the presence of isoproterenol-induced injury.

Methods: 

All experimental procedures were carried out according to the national guidelines for conducting animal studies (Ethical committee permission No 86/123KA—Kerman University of Medical Sciences). Main animal groups were control (CTL), black tea (T), nicotine (N) and black tea plus nicotine (N+T) groups. Test groups received nicotine (2mg/kg sc) and black tea brewed (2.5% w/v p.o) each alone and in combination for 4 weeks. On the twenty-eighth day, myocardial damage was induced by isoproterenol (50 mg/kg i.p.) and blood samples were taken for cardiac troponin I measurement. On day of 29, after hemodynamic parameters recording, hearts were removed for histopathological evaluation.

Results: 

Tea or nicotine consumption had no significant effects on hemodynamic indices before induction of heart' damage. When cardiac injury was induced, tea consumption maintained the Maximum dp/dt and nicotine significantly decreased the pressure-rate product (PRP). Moreover, severity of heart lesions was lower in the presence of chronic nicotine or black tea. Concomitant use of these two materials did not show extra effects on mentioned parameters more than the effect of each of them alone.

Conclusions: 

The results suggest that long-term administration of black tea or nicotine may have mild to moderate cardioprotective effects, while concomitant use of these materials can not intensify this beneficial effect