Peristrophe roxburghiana leaf extracts exhibited anti-hypertensive and anti-lipidemic properties in L-NAME hypertensive rats

Aqueous extract of Peristrophe bivalvis (L.) Merr. leaf reversed the detrimental effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on blood lipid profile and glucose level

There is evidence that nitric oxide (NO) modulates the metabolism of glucose and lipid, and some antihypertensive medications have been shown to affect glucose and lipid metabolism. Peristrophe bivalvis is a medicinal plant that has been shown to have antihypertensive properties. The study investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Peristrophe bivalvis leaf (APB) on fasting blood glucose level (FBG) and lipid profile in rats pretreated with nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Male Wistar rats (150-170 g, n=30) were randomly divided into two groups: control (CT, n=5) and L-NAME pretreated (n=25). CT received 5 mL/kg of distilled water [DW]) while L-NAME pretreated group received 60 mg/kg of L-NAME (L-NAME60) for eight weeks. After eight weeks, the L-NAME pretreated group was randomly subdivided into L-NAME group (LN), L-NAME recovery group (LRE), L-NAME ramipril group (LRA), and L-NAME APB group (LAPB). The groups received L-NAME60+DW, DW, L-NAME60+10 mg/kg ramipril, and L-NAME60+APB (200 mg/kg), respectively, for five weeks. Serum NO, lipid profile, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and insulin were measured by spectrophotometry, assay kits, and ELISA, respectively. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p < 0.05. At the eighth week, a fall in FBG and an increase in triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were recorded in L8 compared to CT. The same effects were also noticed in the thirteenth week in LN. However, FBG was significantly increased and lipid levels were decreased in LAPB compared to LN. A significant increase was observed in cGMP level in LAPB compared to LN. The study showed that APB corrected the hyperlipidemia and hypoglycemia caused by L-NAME, and this effect might be via the activation of cGMP.

The antihypertensive and diuretic effect of crude root extract and saponins from Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam., in L-NAME-induced hypertension in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam., is used in Paraguayan folk medicine claiming antihypertensive and diuretic properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to determine the influence of chronic oral administration of the crude root extract and saponins obtained from S. sisymbriifolium Lam., on the blood pressure of male and female rats with hypertension induced by L-NAME, and its consequences on diuresis, the body weight, blood glucose, and level of serum parameters of liver and kidney functionality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven male, and seven female groups (8 animals each), which received as 6-week pretreatment, 0.9% saline solution (two groups; 0.1mL/10 g of b.w.), L-arginine (100.0 mg/kg/day), enalapril (15.0 mg/kg/day), crude extract (CESs 100.0 mg/kg/day), and saponin purified fraction (1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg/day), and treated with L-NAME (20 mg/kg/day/i.p.) twice, 1, and 6 h after pre-treatment. The animals' body weight, glycemia, and blood pressure were recorded weekly, while serum, hepatic, renal, and histological parameters were analyzed at the end of 6-week of treatment.

RESULTS

A protective effect of CESs (100.0 mg/kg/day), and saponins (1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg/day) against hypertension induced by L-NAME was verified in the systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure values, which were significantly lower than the positive L-NAME-hypertensive control group (male and female) at the end of the 6-week treatment. Also, pretreatment with enalapril (15.0 mg/kg/day) induced an efficient protective activity, which validates the method used. Likewise, the volume of urine, creatinine, uric acid, urea, and electrolyte excretion was enhanced at the end of 6-week of treatment in concordance with the reduction in serum level of the same parameters, compatible with the improvement of the diuretic activity. The glycemia, body weight, heart rate, and functional hepato-renal parameters were not modified after a 6-week of treatment, in comparison to the control group, indicating relatively acceptable harmless properties of CESs and saponins. Interestingly, the HDL level in females was increased in contrast to male rats by chronic saponins treatment when compared with the negative control group.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that either the increment in blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and median) or cardiorenal remodeling effects in male and female rats submitted to L-NAME-induced hypertensive condition, were prevented and well-preserved without a significant variation during a period of 6-week of pretreatment with CESs and saponins pretreatments. Likewise, an important diuretic effect was revealed after this period of treatment.

Blood Metabolomics Analysis Identifies Differential Serum Metabolites in Elite and Sub-elite Swimmers

Objective: Metabolites in body fluids, such as lactate, glucose, and creatinine, have been measured by conventional methods to evaluate physical function and performance or athletic status. The objectives of the current study were to explore the novel metabolite biomarkers in professional swimmers with different competition levels using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics, and try to establish a model to identify the athletic status or predict the competitive potential.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 103 elite and 84 sub-elite level Chinese professional swimmers, and were profiled by NMR analysis.

Results: Out of the thirty-six serum metabolites profiled, ten were associated with the athletic status of swimmers (with p < 0.05). When compared with sub-elite swimmers, elite swimmers had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), unsaturated fatty acid, lactic acid, and methanol. Elite swimmers had lower levels of isoleucine, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, acetoacetate, glutamine, glycine, and α-glucose. A model with four metabolites, including HDL, glutamine, methanol, and α-glucose, was established to predict athletic status by adjusting with different covariates. The area under the curve (AUC) of the best model was 0.904 (95% CI: 0.862-0.947), with a sensitivity and specificity of 75.5 and 90.2%, respectively.

Conclusion: We have identified ten metabolite biomarkers with differentially expressed levels between elite and sub-elite swimmers, the differences could result from genetic or sports level between the two cohorts. A model with four metabolites has successfully differentiated professional swimmers with different competitive levels.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Prevents Hypertension and Protects the Heart in Chronic Nitric Oxide Deficiency Rat Model

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the number one cause of global mortality. The potential use of natural products to alleviate high blood pressure has been demonstrated to exert a cardioprotective effect. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. belongs to the plant family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae). It contains a high amount of triterpenoid and flavonoid that have antioxidant properties and are involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which is an important hormonal system for blood pressure regulation. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of C. asiatica ethanolic extract on blood pressure and heart in a hypertensive rat model, which was induced using oral N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME). Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups and were given different treatments for 8 weeks. Group 1 only received deionized water. Groups 2, 4, and 5 were given l-NAME (40 mg/kg, orally). Groups 4 and 5 concurrently received C. asiatica extract (500 mg/kg, orally) and captopril (5 mg/kg, orally), respectively. Group 3 only received C. asiatica extract (500 mg/kg body weight, orally). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at weeks 0, 4, and 8, while serum nitric oxide (NO) was measured at weeks 0 and 8. At necropsy, cardiac and aortic malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, cardiac angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, and serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured. Results: After 8 weeks, the administrations of C. asiatica extract and captopril showed significant (p < 0.05) effects on preventing the elevation of SBP, reducing the serum nitric oxide level, as well as increasing the cardiac and aortic MDA content, cardiac ACE activity, and serum brain natriuretic peptide level. Conclusion: C. asiatica extract can prevent the development of hypertension and cardiac damage induced by l-NAME, and these effects were comparable to captopril.