cyclic-gmp and cinnamaldehyde

Electronic cigarette refill liquids are commercially provided with a wide variety of flavoring agents. A recent study suggested that several common flavors may scavenge nitric oxide (NO) and cause endothelial dysfunction. It was the aim of the present study to investigate the effects of these flavors on NO/cyclic GMP-mediated signaling and vascular relaxation. We tested the flavoring agents for effects on Ca2+-induced cGMP accumulation and NO synthase activation in cultured endothelial cells. NO scavenging was studied with NO-activated soluble guanylate cyclase and as NO release from a NO donor, measured with a NO electrode. Blood vessel function was studied with precontracted rat aortic rings in the absence and presence of acetylcholine or a NO donor. Cinnamaldehyde inhibited Ca2+-stimulated endothelial cGMP accumulation and NO synthase activation at ≥0.3 mM. Cinnamaldehyde and diacetyl inhibited NO-activated soluble guanylate cyclase with IC50 values of 0.56 (0.54-0.58) and 0.29 (0.24-0.36) mM, respectively, and caused moderate NO scavenging at 1 mM that was not mediated by superoxide anions. The other compounds did not scavenge NO at 1 mM. None of the flavorings interfered with acetylcholine-induced vascular relaxation, but they caused relaxation of pre-contracted aortas. The most potent compounds were eugenol and cinnamaldehyde with EC50 values of ~0.5 mM. Since the flavors did not affect endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation, NO scavenging by cinnamaldehyde and diacetyl does not result in impaired blood vessel function. Although not studied in vivo, the low potency of the compounds renders it unlikely that the observed effects are relevant to humans inhaling flavored vapor from electronic cigarettes.

Topics: Acrolein; Animals; Aorta; Cyclic GMP; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Endothelium, Vascular; Flavoring Agents; Nitric Oxide; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vasodilation

The in vitro effect of cinnamic aldehyde, a main component of Cinnamomi Cortex, on platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in human platelets was studied. Cinnamic aldehyde reduced platelet aggregation of both platelet rich plasma and washed platelets, dose-dependently. This compound also decreased the formation of the metabolites of AA such as thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 12-hydroxy heptadecatrienoic acid and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in collagen-stimulated washed platelets. The conversion of exogenous [14C]AA to cyclooxygenase metabolites or 12-lipoxygenase metabolite was not altered significantly by the addition of cinnamic aldehyde. On the other hand, collagen-induced release of [14C]AA and its metabolites from washed platelets prelabeled with [14C]AA was markedly reduced by the addition of cinnamic aldehyde. These results suggested that cinnamic aldehyde suppressed the release of AA from platelet membrane phospholipids and then reduced the formation of thromboxane A2. This inhibitory effect of cinnamic aldehyde on AA release and TXB2 formation may contribute to reduced platelet aggregation.

Topics: Acrolein; Aldehydes; Arachidonic Acid; Arachidonic Acids; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Collagen; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Platelet Aggregation