nsc-4347 and Hypertension

The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2011 estimated that 35.1% (5.7 million) of Malaysian adults aged 18 and older suffer from hypertension. Hypertension is still treated by conventional medicine despite its exact aetiology being unknown. Studies showed that oxidative stress and low availability of nitric oxide (NO) causes an increase in vascular wall tension and increase blood pressure. Piper sarmentosum (PS) a traditional Malay herbal plant is well known for its high antioxidant content. Antioxidant is useful in improving cardiovascular diseases particularly hypertension. Thus, it is beneficial to determine the effect of PS leaves aqueous extract (Kadukmy™) on the blood pressure, NO level, oxidative stress markers and serum cholesterol level of the Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (SHR).. Rats were devided into five groups consisting of three treatment groups and two control groups. Baseline blood investigations were done before and following commencement of treatment. Spontaneous hypertensive rats were treated for 28 consecutive days and the blood pressure was measured weekly.. Kadukmy™ administration showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (P < 0.05), increased serum NO level (P < 0.05), reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level (P < 0.05) and reduction of serum total cholesterol level in groups treated with Kadukmy-1™.. The result of the present study revealed that Kadukmy™ exerts its antioxidant activity to reduce oxidative stress damage, increase NO production and able to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol level.

Topics: Animals; Antihypertensive Agents; Antioxidants; Blood Pressure; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Malondialdehyde; Nitric Oxide; Oxidative Stress; Phytotherapy; Piper; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Rats, Inbred SHR; Rats, Wistar

Several plants from the Brazilian Tropical Forest are used in folk medicine for treatment of hypertension and asthma. In this study, we investigated the effects of hexanic extracts of leaves (HLE) and stems (HSE) from Piper truncatum on the contractility of cardiac, vascular and tracheal smooth muscles. Twitches of cardiac muscles obtained with electrical stimulation were recorded before and after exposure to increasing concentrations of hexanic extracts. HLE and HSE respectively reduced significantly the amplitude of twitches to 57.05 +/- 11.63 and 61.58 +/- 5.70% of control in the presence of 100 microg mL(-1). Contractile response to a single concentration of adrenaline (epinephrine) was measured before and after exposure of rat aorta rings to HLE and HSE. Both extracts inhibited aorta contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration of 50% inhibitory effect (IC50) was 32.3 +/- 13.8 and 47.0 +/- 23.8 microg mL(-1) for HLE and HSE, respectively, in aorta with intact endothelium. HLE and HSE also reduced the acetylcholine-precontracted trachea in a concentration-dependent manner with maximal effect observed at 250 and 350 microg mL(-1), respectively. Vasodilatation and trachea relaxation induced by HLE and HSE could explain the use of Piper extracts to reduce blood pressure and bronchospasm.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Asthma; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelium, Vascular; Hexanes; Hypertension; Male; Muscle, Smooth; Myocardial Contraction; Piper; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Trachea; Vasodilation