Title:Antihypertensive and Vasorelaxant Effects of Rumex vesicarius (L.)
through Receptor-Operated Calcium Channels in Hypertensive Rats
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Author(s): Ayoub Amssayef, Ismail Bouadid, Ahmed EL-Haidani and Mohamed Eddouks*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biology, Team of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques
Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University of Meknes, Errachidia, Morocco. BP 509 Errachidia, Morocco
Keywords:
Hypertension, Rumex vesicarius, vasorelaxation, aortic ring, medicinal plant, ACE-2, receptor-operated calcium channels.
Abstract:
Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the antihypertensive activity of Rumex vesicarius.
Background: The genus Rumex (sorrel, Polygonaceae), containing approximately 200 species, is distributed
worldwide (African, European, Asian, and American countries). It is widely used in traditional
medicine as analgesic, diuretic, antispasmodic, and antihypertensive plant.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the possible antihypertensive vasorelaxant capacity and effect
on angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) of the aqueous extract of Rumex vesicarius (R. vesicarius).
Methods: In the present study, the aqueous extract of R. vesicarius (AERV) was prepared, its antihypertensive
activity was examined in N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME)-induced hypertensive
rats, and its vasorelaxant ability along with its effect on stimulating or inhibiting ACE-2 were
determined in isolated rat thoracic aorta.
Results: The results indicated that AERV decreased the systolic, diastolic, mean, and mean arterial
blood pressure in hypertensive rats. The data revealed that AERV exerted its antihypertensive effect
through vasodilatory properties via an endothelium-independent pathway. Interestingly, the study
demonstrated that the vasorelaxation ability of AERV might be mediated through receptor-operated
calcium channels (ROCC). However, AERV extract had no effect on either stimulating or inhibiting
ACE-2.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates clearly the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant activities
of R. vesicarius in hypertensive rats, supporting its beneficial action as an antihypertensive agent.