Abstract
This work provides the first demonstration that ethanolic extract (EEEG) obtained from Echinodorus grandiflorus leaves (EEEG) and its butanolic fraction (ButFr) has important vasodilatory effects on isolated mesenteric vascular beds (MVBs). First, the EEEG was obtained and a liquid-liquid fractionation was performed. EEEG and its resulting fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, the vasodilatory effects of EEEG and their respective fractions were evaluated. Finally, the molecular mechanisms involved in the vasodilator responses of the EEEG and ButFr were also investigated. EEEG vasodilator response was estimated at ~11 and 18 mm Hg at doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mg, respectively. Moreover, it was found that ButFr was able to induce an expressive dose-dependent vasodilator response in MVBs. The PP reduction values for doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mg were ~10 and 28 mm Hg, respectively. Endothelium removal or inhibition of nitric oxide and prostaglandin synthase (by L-NAME plus indomethacin) inhibited the vasodilatory effects induced by ButFr or EEEG. The peak effect of ButFr and EEEG doses (0.1 and 0.3 mg) was decreased by ~100% (p < 0.001). The association of atropine plus HOE-140 fully inhibited EEEG and ButFr-induced vasodilation (p < 0.001). Moreover, perfusion with nutritive solution containing 40 mM KCl or previous treatment with tetraethylammonium completely blocked vasodilation induced by ButFr (p < 0.001). This study showed that EEEG and its ButFr have important vasodilatory effects by endothelial M3-muscarinic and B2-bradykininergic receptors inducing nitric oxide and prostacyclin release followed by K+ channels activation in the vascular smooth muscle.
Highlights
In recent years, Echinodorus grandiflorus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Micheli (Alismataceae) has gained prominence in Brazil
butanolic fraction (ButFr) showed a significant concentration of phenolic compounds and flavonoids with values significantly higher than those found in HexFr and ChlFr fractions (Table 1)
The main compounds found in EEEG and ButFr were identified on the basis of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-Diode-Array Detector (DAD) retention time using standard compounds
Summary
Echinodorus grandiflorus (Cham. & Schltdl.) Micheli (Alismataceae) has gained prominence in Brazil. The infusion of its leaves has been used an antihypertensive and diuretic agent by different native populations in South America for many years. Due to its extensive ethnobotanical use in Brazil [1, 2], the genus Echinodorus was included as a hypolipidemic and diuretic agent according to the herbal form of Brazilian Pharmacopoeia [3, 4]. Several preclinical pharmacological studies have presented E. grandiflorus as a promising species for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Available data have shown that different preparations obtained from the species could present diuretic [5, 6], antiedematous [7], antihypertensive [6,7,8], and vasodilatory effects [9].
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