The present study demonstrates that (Z)-2-acetoxy-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid treatment was useful in treating post-MI heart failure by preferentially modulating the local inflammatory response and inhibiting myocardial apoptosis as evidenced by decreasing TNF-α, IL-1β, caspase-3, and capase-9 expression levels. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is myocardial infarction.