A method for evaluating a compound to determine the relative or absolute therapeutic capability of a compound to pharmacologically inhibit ischemia induced activation of iPLA.sub.2.beta. in an intact myocardium which comprises treating intact myocardium with a compound, inducing ischemia in the myocardium tissue and determining if there has been a change in expression of iPLA.sub.2.beta., its activity or in the iPLA.sub.2.beta. regulating network and determining if there has been a change then that the compound is an anti-arrhythmia or myocardial salvage drug.