Title:Vitamin C Inhibits Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 in Isolated Rat Aortic
Ring
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Author(s): Ayoub Amssayef, Ismail Bouadid and Mohamed Eddouks*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biology, Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay
Ismail University of Meknes, BP 509, Boutalamine, 52000 Errachidia, Morocco
Keywords:
Ascorbic acid, ACE-II, COVID-19, diminazene, inhibition, aortic rings.
Abstract: Aims: The study aimed to assess the inhibitory effect of Vitamin C on angiotensin-converting
enzyme 2.
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-II)
as the first route to infect human cells. Accordingly, agents with potential inhibition of ACE-II receptors
might be effective in the prevention and management of COVID-19.
Objective: The goal of this work was to assess the possible inhibitory effect of ACE-II on ascorbic
acid using an ex vivo approach based on the inhibition of diminazene-induced vasorelaxation.
Materials and Methods: In the present study, diminazene was used as a known specific inhibitor
of ACE-II. Then, the vasorelaxant effect of ascorbic acid on diminazene-induced relaxation was examined
using isolated aortic rings. All experiments of this study were evaluated on isolated aortic
rings precontracted by epinephrine.
Results: The results confirmed that diminazene-induced vasorelaxation in a dose-dependent manner.
More interestingly, ascorbic acid inhibited diminazene-induced vasorelaxation in a dose-dependent
manner.
Conclusion: This investigation provides valuable experimental proof of the efficacy of ascorbic
acid (Vitamin C) on inhibiting ex vivo vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme II, which is known
among the pharmacological targets of anti-COVID-19 drugs.