Effects of chrysin on free radicals and enzymatic antioxidants in Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester: Induced hypertensive rats

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of chrysin, a natural biologically active compound extracted from many plants, mushrooms, honey, and propolis on the tissue and circulatory antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in Nω-nitro-L-ariginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Materials and Methods: Hypertension was induced in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing 180-220 g, by oral administration of l-NAME (40 mg/kg BWT/day) in drinking water for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with chrysin (25 mg/kg BWT/day) for 4 weeks. Results: The results showed significantly elevated levels of tissue malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and xanthine oxidase, and significantly lowered nonenzymatic antioxidant activity of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase in l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats compared with those in the control group. Supplementation of chrysin at the dosage of 25 mg/kg considerably decreased the levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and xanthine oxidase and significantly increased the activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase in the tissues and blood compared with those in the unsupplemented l-NAME-induced hypertensive groups. Conclusions: Chrysin offers protection against free radical-mediated oxidative stress in rats with l-NAME-induced hypertension.