Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 27, 2026 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Medical News: A Serious Heart Condition with Limited Treatment Options
Myocardial fibrosis is a progressive and often silent condition in which excessive scar tissue forms inside the heart muscle. Over time, this stiffens the heart, weakens its pumping ability, and greatly increases the risk of heart failure. Despite major advances in cardiology, there are still no highly targeted treatments that directly address the root biological mechanisms behind this scarring process. A new study has now identified a naturally occurring plant compound or phytochemical that could change this outlook.
A plant derived antioxidant commonly found in foods may help prevent dangerous heart scarring
What Is Protocatechuic Acid and Why It Matters
Protocatechuic acid, commonly abbreviated as PCA, is a natural phenolic compound and a powerful antioxidant found in many everyday plant-based foods. Chemically known as 3,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid, PCA is abundant in olives, grapes, purple rice, berries, and green tea, and is also produced in the body as a metabolite of other dietary polyphenols. Over the years, PCA has attracted scientific attention due to its wide range of beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and neuroprotective effects. However, its role in protecting the heart from fibrotic damage had not been fully understood until now.
Who Conducted the Research
The study was carried out by researchers from the College of Basic Medical Sciences at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, the Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease in Hangzhou, and the Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences at Henan University of Chinese Medicine in Zhengzhou, China.
How the Study Was Performed
In this
Medical News report, scientists used laboratory rats with chemically induced myocardial fibrosis that closely mimics human heart scarring. Some of the animals were treated with protocatechuic acid over several weeks. In parallel, experiments were conducted using human blood vessel cells and heart muscle cells to observe how PCA affected inflammation and cellular behavior. Advanced computer simulations were also used to confirm how the compound interacts with key proteins inside cells.
Improved Heart Function and Less Scarring
The findings showed that rats receiving higher doses of protocatechuic acid had significantly better heart function. Their hearts pumped blood more efficiently, and blood tests revealed reduced levels of enzymes linked to heart muscle injury. Tissue analysis showed much less collagen buildup, meaning reduced scarring, and the heart structure appeared closer to normal compared to untreated animals.
How Protocatechuic Acid Works
The researchers discovered that PCA works by calming inflammation within the cells that line heart blood vessels. Under chronic s
tress, these cells can transform into scar producing cells through a process called endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Protocatechuic acid blocked this harmful shift by regulating a critical pathway involving histone deacetylase 1 and GATA binding protein 4. This prevented excessive inflammation and slowed the cascade that leads to fibrosis.
Strong Molecular Evidence Supports the Findings
Computer based molecular studies confirmed that protocatechuic acid binds stably to histone deacetylase 1, reinforcing the biological explanation behind its protective effects. This adds strong credibility to the experimental results.
Conclusion
Overall, the study demonstrates that protocatechuic acid, a naturally occurring antioxidant widely present in common foods, can significantly reduce heart scarring by suppressing inflammation and preserving healthy cell function. These findings highlight its potential as a safe long-term strategy to prevent or slow myocardial fibrosis, although human clinical trials will be needed before it can be recommended as a treatment.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Biology.
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/2/206
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/cardiology
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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