Assessment of In vitro pharmacological activity of Olmesartan by analytical techniques

Abstract

Background: Free radical oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathology of a wide variety of clinical disorders. Antioxidants are agents which scavenge the free radicals and prevent the damage caused by them. Angiotensin II receptor blockers used in the treatment of hypertension has also been reported to protect organs such as kidney and heart. Although the mechanisms of these protective effects are not fully understood, it is generally thought that their antioxidant effects likely play a role. Hence, this in vitro study was done to demonstrate the antioxidant pharmacological activity of a commonly used Angiotensin receptor blocker Olmesartan. Methods: In this study, we demonstrated the antioxidant pharmacological activity of Olmesartan in vitro by 1,1 Diphenyl 2-picryl hydrazide (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging assays. Results: Olmesartan showed significant free radical scavenging activity by DPPH and NO radical scavenging assays. Conclusion: Hence, Olmesartan, which is an antihypertensive drug, may be effective also as an antioxidant in a wide variety of disease conditions caused by oxidative stress.