Abstract
Prunetin, a component of herbal medicines and various foods, such as pea, peach, cherry, and Prunus yedoensis, is a useful pharmacological compound. We previously reported the potent vasorelaxant effect of the bark of P. yedoensis. Therefore, we investigated the vasorelaxant activities of prunetin on isolated rat aortic rings and hypotensive activity on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in this study. In the present study, prunetin (1–30 μg/mL) relaxed isolated rat aortic rings pre-contracted by phenylephrine (PE) in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-incubation with prunetin (3 and 10 μg/mL) inhibited vasoconstriction induced by the supply of Ca2+ in rat aortic rings pre-contracted with PE or KCl in a Ca2+-free Krebs–Henseleit (KH) buffer. Prunetin (10 μg/mL) pre-treatment also inhibited caffeine-induced contraction of aortic rings in a Ca2+-free KH buffer. To investigate the hypotensive effect of prunetin, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the SHR was measured by using a tail cuff assay. The SBP of SHR was significantly lower in the prunetin (25 mg/kg)-treated group. These results suggested that prunetin decreased blood pressure and relaxed blood vessels by blocking receptor-operated calcium channels, voltage-dependent calcium channels, and ryanodine receptor channels.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, 1.13 billion people worldwide had high blood pressure [1]
These results suggested that prunetin decreased blood pressure and relaxed blood vessels by blocking receptor-operated calcium channels, voltage-dependent calcium channels, and ryanodine receptor channels
Regardless of the presence of the endothelium, prunetin caused a concentration-dependent relaxation response in aortic rings pre-contracted by phenylephrine (PE, 1 μM)
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, 1.13 billion people worldwide had high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥ 140 and/or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] ≥ 90) [1]. High blood pressure is one of the major global risk factors for mortality from conditions such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, renal impairment, retinal hemorrhage, visual impairment, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke. Blood pressure levels below 140/90 are associated with a decreased incidence of stroke and coronary heart disease [1]. If blood pressure cannot be controlled by these nonpharmacological treatments, hypertensive drugs can be used, such as calcium channel blockers, thiazide diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and β-blockers. Most patients with hypertension use these medications to control their blood pressure, but there are many foods and herbal medicines that can prevent or control hypertension; representative antihypertensive plants include green asparagus [2], celery [3], red wine [4], and safflower [5]
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