Corinne Girard

Vasorelaxant and hypotensive effects of a hydroalcoholic extract from the fruits of Nitraria sibirica Pall. (Nitrariaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Fruits of Nitraria sibirica Pall. are traditionally used in Uighur medicine to treat hypertension. This study aimed to support that folk use by defining their vasoactive and hypotensive properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS The vasorelaxant activity and the underlying mechanisms of a hydroalcoholic extract from the fruits of Nitraria sibirica Pall. (NSHE) were evaluated on thoracic aortic rings isolated from Wistar rats. In addition, the acute hypotensive effect of NSHE was assessed in anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in their normotensive control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. RESULTS NSHE (0.1-10 g/l) was clearly more effective to induce vasodilation of phenylephrine- (PE, 1 μM) than high KCl- (60mM) pre-contracted aortic rings with respective E(max) values of 82.9±2.2% and 34.8±3.6%. The removal of endothelium almost abolished the relaxant effect of the extract. In addition, pre-treatment with N(w)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 μM), atropine (1 μM) or charybdotoxin (30 nM) plus apamin (30 nM), respective blockers of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, muscarinic receptors and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), significantly reduced the observed effect of NSHE. By contrast, the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethacin (10 μM) or the K(+) channels blockers glibenclamide (10 μM), iberiotoxin (30 nM) and 4-amino-pyridine (4-AP, 1 mM) failed to modify the vasodilation. Finally, the acute intravenous injection of NSHE (1, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg) induced an immediate and transient hypotensive effect in anesthetized SHR and in WKY rats. CONCLUSIONS This experimental animal study suggests that hydroalcoholic extract from the fruits of Nitraria sibirica Pall. induces vasorelaxation through an endothelium-dependent pathway involving NO synthase (NOS) activation, EDHF production and muscarinic receptor stimulation. Additionally, our results determine that this vasorelaxant effect is translated by a significant hypotensive effect.

Mechanisms of vasorelaxation induced by Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (Lamiaceae) extract in rat thoracic aorta

AIM OF THE STUDY Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. (ZC) is widely used in Uyghur folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension diseases in Xinjiang, an autonomous region of China. To provide pharmacological basis for this traditional use, we explored the vasodilating effects of ZC and investigated the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Activity of hexane (ZCHE), dichloromethane (ZCDE) and aqueous (ZCAE) extracts of ZC were evaluated on isolated rat aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE) or high KCl. The mechanisms were evaluated on ZCDE, the most potent extract. RESULTS ZCDE-induced relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE, 10(-6) M) or high KCl (6×10(-2) M), with respective EC(50) values of 0.27±0.03 and 0.34±0.04 g/l. Mechanic removal of the endothelium did not significantly modify ZCDE-induced relaxation. In endothelium-denuded aorta pre-contracted with PE (10(-6) M), the vasorelaxant effect of ZCDE was significantly decreased by 4-amino-pyridine (10(-3) M), but not by glibenclamide (10(-4) M), iberiotoxin (3×10(-8) M) and thapsigargin (10(-7) M). In Ca(2+) free solution, ZCDE significantly inhibited extracellular Ca(2+)-induced contraction in high KCl and PE pre-contracted rings. Additionally ZDCE inhibited the intracellular Ca(2+) release sensitive to PE (10(-6) M). CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that ZDCE exhibits endothelium-independent vasodilating properties that are mediated by inhibition of extracellular Ca(2+) influx through voltage- and receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (VDDCs and ROCCs), by inhibition of Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores, and also by the opening of voltage-dependent K(+) channels.

The aqueous extract of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae) prevents glucose-induced hypertension in rats☆

AIM OF THE STUDY The stem bark of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae) (TS) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine as antihypertensive remedy. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypotensive and the antihypertensive effects of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Terminalia superba. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hypertension was obtained in rats by oral administration of 10% D-glucose for 3 weeks. The acute effects of Terminalia superba were studied on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) after intravenous administration in normotensive rats (NTR) and glucose hypertensive rats (GHR). The antihypertensive effects were studied after oral administration of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) or nifedipine (10 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, BP and HR were measured and reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity levels were measured in heart, aorta, liver and kidney. RESULTS Intravenous administration of the aqueous extract of Terminalia superba induced a significant hypotensive response without any change in HR. The hypotensive effect of the extract was unaffected by atropine or propranolol but decreased by reserpine (5 mg/kg) and yohimbine (0.1 mg/kg). In addition, the oral administration of the extract significantly prevented the rise in BP in glucose-hypertensive rats. Finally, the treatment with plant extract significantly blunted the decrease in GSH and the increase in MDA levels associated with hypertension, and significantly prevents the increase in aortic SOD activity. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Terminalia superba exhibits hypotensive and anti-hypertensive properties that are, at least in part, related to a withdrawal of sympathetic tone and to an improvement of the antioxidant status, respectively. Overall data validate the use of Terminalia superba as antihypertensive therapy in traditional medicine.

Vasorelaxant effects of extracts of the stem bark of Terminalia superba Engler & Diels (Combretaceae).

AIM OF THE STUDY The stem bark of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae) (TS) is used in traditional Cameroonian medicine as antihypertensive remedy. In the present study, we investigated the vasorelaxant properties of different extracts of TS and their underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Activities of aqueous (AQU), methanolic (MET), methylene chloride (MC), and methylene chloride-methanol (MCM) extracts of TS were evaluated on isolated rat aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PE) or high KCl. RESULTS All extracts induced a vasodilating effect both on KCl- and PE-induced contractions. The effects of MC and MCM extracts were greater than those of AQU or MET extracts (P<0.05). MC had an endothelium-independent effect and reduced Ca(++)-induced contraction following PE or KCl challenge (P<0.05). After incubation with verapamil, MC induced a relaxation in rings precontracted by PE (P<0.001). By contrast, the effect of MCM was endothelium-dependent and decreased by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that the MC extract exhibits vasorelaxant effects that are partly due to inhibition of extracellular Ca(++) influx and/or inhibition of intracellular Ca(++) release in vascular smooth muscle cells. By contrast, the effect of the MCM extract was found to be endothelium- and nitric oxide dependent.

Phebaclavin I, a novel 3-prenylated coumarin, and trichoclin acetate, a new natural furocoumarin, from the aerial parts of Phebalium aff. tuberculosum (Rutaceae).

Phebaclavin I, a novel 3-prenylated coumarin, was isolated from the aerial parts of Phebalium aff. tuberculosum (Rutaceae) together with five known related compounds, Phebaclavin A, B, D, G, H. The structure of phebaclavin I was established by spectroscopic methods. Several other known coumarins were obtained, including trichoclin acetate, a furocoumarin isolated for the first time from a natural source, but previously described from acetylation of trichoclin.

Prenylated p-Coumarates from the Twigs of Phebalium rude subsp. amblycarpum (Rutaceae)

Phebarudol, a novel prenylated p-coumarate, was isolated from the twigs of Phebalium rude Bartl. subsp. amblycarpum (F. Muell.) P. G. Wilson (Rutaceae) together with the two already known related compounds, werneria chromene and methyl demethoxywutaiensate. The structure of phebarudol was established by spectroscopic methods.

3-Substituted Coumarins from the Twigs of Rhadinothamnus rudis ssp. amblycarpus

The twigs of Rhadinothamnus rudis ssp. amblycarpus (Phebalium rude ssp. amblycarpum) yielded three new 3-substituted coumarins: rudicoumarin A-C (1- 3). Their structures were established on the basis of their NMR and mass spectral data. In addition, ten other known compounds were also isolated, including phebaclavin I, schinicoumarin, seselin, and seven linear furocoumarins.