Biomaterial Database

Antihypertensive Effect of Syzygium cumini in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. 2014

Rachel Melo Ribeiro, and Vicente Férrer Pinheiro Neto, and Kllysmann Santos Ribeiro, and Denilson Amorim Vieira, and Iracelle Carvalho Abreu, and Selma do Nascimento Silva, and Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes, and Sônia Maria de Farias Freire, and Antonio Carlos Romão Borges, and Marilene Oliveira da Rocha Borges

Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Physiological Science, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), Avenida dos Portugueses 1966, Bacanga, 65080-805 São Luís, MA, Brazil.

This study evaluated the in vivo potential antihypertensive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Syzygium cumini leaves (HESC) in normotensive Wistar rats and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), as well as its in vitro effect on the vascular reactivity of resistance arteries. The hypotensive effect caused by intravenous infusion of HESC (0.01-4.0 mg/kg) in anesthetized Wistar rats was dose-dependent and was partially inhibited by pretreatment with atropine sulfate. SHR received HESC (0.5 g/kg/day), orally, for 8 weeks and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and vascular reactivity were evaluated. Daily oral administration of HESC resulted in a time-dependent blood pressure reduction in SHR, with a maximum reduction of 62%. In the endothelium-deprived superior mesenteric arteries rings the treatment with HESC reduced by 40% the maximum effect (E max⁡) of contraction induced by NE. The contractile response to calcium and NE of endothelium-deprived mesenteric rings isolated from untreated SHR was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner by HESC (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/mL). This study demonstrated that Syzygium cumini reduces the blood pressure and heart rate of SHR and that this antihypertensive effect is probably due to the inhibition of arterial tone and extracellular calcium influx.