Effects of Cudrania tricuspidata water extract on blood pressure and renal functions in NO-dependent hypertension

Life Sci. 2002 Apr 19;70(22):2599-609. doi: 10.1016/s0024-3205(02)01547-3.

Abstract

A pharmacological inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in rats for 4-6 weeks produces renal vasoconstriction, renal dysfunction, and severe hypertension. The present study was aimed at investigating whether Cudrania tricuspidata (C. tricuspidata) water extract ameliorates N(G)-Nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME)-induced hypertension. Treatment of L-NAME (60 mg/L drinking water, 4 weeks) causes a sustained increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP). The concentration of plasma NO metabolites and NO/cGMP productions in the vascular tissues of the L-NAME-treated group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the control. C. tricuspidata water extract blocked increase of SBP in the L-NAME-treated group and restored SBP to normal level. Futhermore, C. tricuspidata water extract was able to preserve the vascular NO/cGMP production and plasma NO metabolites concentration. However, there are no changes in the expression of ecNOS and iNOS of thoracic aorta among the rats of control, L-NAME-treated group, and L-NAME and C. tricuspidata water extract co-treated group. The urinary sodium level, urine volume, and creatinine clearance were significantly higher in rats co-treated with C. tricuspidata water extract and L-NAME than in L-NAME-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that C tricuspidata water extract prevents the increase of SBP in the L-NAME-induced hypertension that may have been caused by enhanced generation of vascular NO/cGMP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aorta, Thoracic / physiopathology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Male
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / toxicity
  • Nitrates / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nitrites / metabolism
  • Plant Bark / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sodium / urine

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Plant Extracts
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Sodium
  • Creatinine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos2 protein, rat
  • Nos3 protein, rat
  • Cyclic GMP
  • NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester