Title:Isolated Natural Antioxidants as a new Possible Therapeutic Alternative
for the Treatment of Hypertension
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Matheus Vinicius Barbosa da Silva, Maria Alessandra da Silva Lima, Lizandra Henrique de Farias, Vanessa Maria dos Santos and Thyago Moreira de Queiroz*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nutrition,
Federal University of Pernambuco, Vitória de Santo Antão, PE, Brazil
Keywords:
Hypertension, oxidative stress, phenolic compounds, caffeic acid, carotenoids, curcumin, apocynin, lipoic acid.
Abstract: Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of arterial
hypertension, inducing direct effects on the vasculature, and contributing to endothelial dysfunction
and consequent impairment of vascular relaxation. Despite a large number of pharmacological
treatments available, intolerable side effects are reported, which makes the use of natural
antioxidants a promising and complementary alternative for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
From this perspective, the current review aims to investigate and characterize the main antioxidants
of natural origin for the treatment of hypertension. Antioxidants act in the inhibition or
extinction of chemical reactions involving free radicals and consequently reduce the occurrence of
damage caused by these cellular components. The main natural antioxidants for treating hypertension
include caffeic acid, ferulic acid, curcumin, apocynin, quercetin, lipoic acid, and lycopene.
The effects associated with these antioxidants, which make them therapeutic targets for decreasing
high blood pressure, include increased activation of antioxidant enzymes, stimulation of nitric oxide
bioavailability, and reduction in angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, arginase, and
NADPH oxidase, whose effects contribute to reducing oxidative stress, improving endothelial
function, and preventing cardiovascular dysfunctions. Thus, several products with antioxidant
properties that are available in nature and their application in the treatment of hypertension are described
in the literature. The therapeutic effects of these products seem to regulate several parameters
related to arterial hypertension, in addition to combating and preventing the deleterious effects
related to the disease.
