Immediate effects of Dynamic Tape™ on hip muscle activation and torque and on lower limb kinematics: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of Dynamic TapeTM (DT) on hip muscle activation and torque and on lower limb kinematics. Forty-five healthy, recreationally active women were randomly assigned to three groups: 1) submitted to the application of DT in the active form in the gluteus medius (GMed) muscle (BG; n = 15), 2) submitted to the application of DT in the placebo form in the GMed muscle (PG; n = 15), and 3) not submitted to any intervention (CG; n = 15). Participants were evaluated for GMed and gluteus maximus (GMax) muscle activation in a maximal voluntary isometric contraction, simultaneously with the assessment of the hip abductor and extensor torques, as well as during two functional tasks - single leg squat (SLS) and jump landing + maximum vertical jump (VJ) - simultaneously with a 2-D kinematic assessment of the lower limb. After DT application in BG, there was a significant decrease in the hip abductor time to peak torque (P = 0.004), hip extensor torque (P = 0.02), excursion to hip adduction (P = 0.007), and to knee flexion (P = 0.02) during the SLS, as well as in GMed activation during VJ (P < 0.05). DT was able to reduce GMed activation and modify lower limb torque and kinematics.

The Cyclitol L-(+)-Bornesitol as an Active Marker for the Cardiovascular Activity of the Brazilian Medicinal Plant Hancornia speciosa.

The cyclitol bornesitol is the main constituent of the leaves from the antihypertensive medicinal plant Hancornia speciosa. This study aimed to investigate the ability of bornesitol to reduce blood pressure and its mechanism of action. Normotensive Wistar rats were divided into control group and bornesitol groups treated intravenously with bornesitol (0.1, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were recorded in non-anesthetized awake animals. Nitric oxide (NO) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were measured in plasma by using colorimetric methods. Vascular reactivity study was performed in rat aorta rings and the involvement of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), calcium-calmodulin complex and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway in the vasodilator effect was investigated. Administration of bornesitol significantly reduced the SBP, increased the plasmatic level of nitrite, and decreased ACE activity in normotensive rats. In the rat aorta, bornesitol induced endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, which was abolished by NOS blockade. While calcium-calmodulin complex inhibition decreased the vasodilator effect of bornesitol, the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway did not alter it. Bornesitol reduced the blood pressure by a mechanism involving an increased production or bioavailability of NO, inhibition of ACE, and by an endothelium- and NO-dependent vasodilator effect. The present results support the use of bornesitol as an active marker for the cardiovascular activity of Hancornia speciosa.

Endothelial Microparticles From Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Induce Premature Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell Aging and Thrombogenicity: Role of the Ang II/AT1 Receptor/NADPH Oxidase-Mediated Activation of MAPKs and PI3-Kinase Pathways.

BACKGROUND: Microparticles (MPs) have emerged as a surrogate marker of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. This study examined the potential of MPs from senescent endothelial cells (ECs) or from patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to promote premature EC aging and thrombogenicity. METHODS: Primary porcine coronary ECs were isolated from the left circumflex coronary artery. MPs were prepared from ECs and venous blood from patients with ACS (n=30) and from healthy volunteers (n=4) by sequential centrifugation. The level of endothelial senescence was assessed as senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity using flow cytometry, oxidative stress using the redox-sensitive probe dihydroethidium, tissue factor activity using an enzymatic Tenase assay, the level of target protein expression by Western blot analysis, platelet aggregation using an aggregometer, and shear stress using a cone-and-plate viscometer. RESULTS: Senescence, as assessed by senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, was induced by the passaging of porcine coronary artery ECs from passage P1 to P4, and was associated with a progressive shedding of procoagulant MPs. Exposure of P1 ECs to MPs shed from senescent P3 cells or circulating MPs from ACS patients induced increased senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, oxidative stress, early phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt, and upregulation of p53, p21, and p16. Ex vivo, the prosenescent effect of circulating MPs from ACS patients was evidenced only under conditions of low shear stress. Depletion of endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients reduced the induction of senescence. Prosenescent MPs promoted EC thrombogenicity through tissue factor upregulation, shedding of procoagulant MPs, endothelial nitric oxide synthase downregulation, and reduced nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation. These MPs exhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and upregulated AT1 receptors and angiotensin-converting enzyme in P1 ECs. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, and inhibitors of either mitogen-activated protein kinases or phosphoinositide 3-kinase prevented the MP-induced endothelial senescence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients induce premature endothelial senescence under atheroprone low shear stress and thrombogenicity through angiotensin II-induced redox-sensitive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt. They further suggest that targeting endothelial-derived MP shedding and their bioactivity may be a promising therapeutic strategy to limit the development of an endothelial dysfunction post-ACS.

A high-refined carbohydrate diet facilitates compulsive-like behavior in mice through the nitric oxide pathway.

Obesity is characterized by abnormal adipose tissue expansion and is associated with chronic inflammation. Obesity itself may induce several comorbidities, including psychiatric disorders. It has been previously demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines are able to up-regulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) release, which both have a role in compulsive related behaviors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether acute or chronic consumption of a high-refined carbohydrate-containing (HC) diet will modify burying-behavior in the Marble Burying Test (MBT) through augmentation of NO signaling in the striatum, a brain region related to the reward system. Further, we also verified the effects of chronic consumption of a HC diet on the reinforcing effects induced by cocaine in the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice received a standard diet (control diet) or a HC diet for 3 days or 12 weeks. RESULTS: An increase in burying behavior occurred in the MBT after chronic consumption of a HC diet that was associated with an increase of nitrite levels in the striatum. The pre-treatment with Aminoguanidine (50 mg/kg), a preferential inhibitor of iNOS, prevented such alterations. Additionally, a chronic HC diet also induced a higher expression of iNOS in this region and higher glutamate release from striatal synaptosomes. Neither statistical differences were observed in the expression levels of the neuronal isoform of NOS nor in microglia number and activation. Finally, the reinforcing effects induced by cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) during the expression of the conditioned response in the CPP test were not different between the chronically HC diet fed mice and the control group. However, HC diet-feeding mice presented impairment of cocaine-preference extinction. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results suggest that the chronic consumption of a HC diet induces compulsive-like behavior through a mechanism possibly associated with NO activation in the striatum.

Endothelial dysfunction in DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice: role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-derived hydrogen peroxide.

Endothelial dysfunction is a common problem associated with hypertension and is considered a precursor to the development of micro- and macro-vascular complications. The present study investigated the involvement of nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) in the impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the mesenteric arteries of DOCA (deoxycorticosterone acetate)-salt-hypertensive mice. Myograph studies were used to investigate the endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of ACh (acetylcholine). The expression and phosphorylation of nNOS and eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) were studied by Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence was used to examine the localization of nNOS and eNOS in the endothelial layer of the mesenteric artery. The vasodilator effect of ACh is strongly impaired in mesenteric arteries of DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice. Non-selective inhibition of NOS sharply reduced the effect of ACh in both DOCA-salt-hypertensive and sham mice. Selective inhibition of nNOS and catalase led to a higher reduction in the effect of ACh in sham than in DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice. Production of H2O2 induced by ACh was significantly reduced in vessels from DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice, and it was blunted after nNOS inhibition. The expression of both eNOS and nNOS was considerably lower in DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice, whereas phosphorylation of their inhibitory sites was increased. The presence of nNOS was confirmed in the endothelial layer of mesenteric arteries from both sham and DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice. These results demonstrate that endothelial dysfunction in the mesenteric arteries of DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice is associated with reduced expression and functioning of nNOS and impaired production of nNOS-derived H2O2 Such findings offer a new perspective for the understanding of endothelial dysfunction in hypertension.

Dihydrogoniothalamin, an Endothelium and NO-Dependent Vasodilator Drug Isolated from Aniba panurensis.

Dihydrogoniothalamin is a styrylpyrone isolated from the leaves of Aniba panurensis. The present work aimed at investigating the vasorelaxant activity of dihydrogoniothalamin and its underlying mechanism of action in the rat aorta. Dihydrogoniothalamin (0.01-100 µM) induced a concentration-dependent vasodilatation of aortas precontracted with phenylephrine. Endothelium removal or pretreatment of the preparation with NG nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester abolished the vasodilator response for dihydrogoniothalamin. Pretreatment with calmidazolium did not affect the vasodilator response of dihydrogoniothalamin. On the other hand, wortmannin, a nonselective inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, and protein kinase B inhibitor IV significantly shifted the concentration-response curve of dihydrogoniothalamin to the right and reduced its maximal effect. A nonselective antagonist of estrogen receptors, ICI 182,780, and a selective antagonist of estrogen receptor α, methyl-piperidino-pyrazole, were able to reduce the relaxation induced by dihydrogoniothalamin, but no effect was observed in the presence of the selective antagonists of estrogen receptor ß and G protein-coupled receptor 30, 4-[2-phenyl-5,7-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]phenol (PHTPP), and G-15, respectively. Dihydrogoniothalamin also increased the phosphorylation of the activation sites of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and protein kinase B. The present results led us to conclude that dihydrogoniothalamin is a vasodilator drug acting in an endothelium- and nitric oxide-dependent manner through a mechanism involving the activation of nitric oxide synthase via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, partially by stimulation of estrogen receptor α.

Mechanism of the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of the flavonoid tiliroside in resistance arteries.

Hypertension is a leading cause of death and disability globally, and its prevalence continues to accelerate. The cardiovascular effects of the flavonoid tiliroside have never been reported. In this work, using complementary in vivo and in vitro approaches, we describe the antihypertensive effect of tiliroside and the underlying mechanisms involved in the reduction of blood pressure. Tiliroside (1, 5 or 10 mg/kg) induced a dose-dependent long-lasting decrease in blood pressure in conscious DOCA-salt hypertensive rats that was accompanied by an increased heart rate. Tiliroside also induced a concentration-dependent vasodilation of mesenteric resistance arteries precontracted with phenylephrine. Removal of the endothelium or pretreatment of the preparation with L-NAME or indomethacin did not modify the vasodilator response for tiliroside. When vessels were precontracted with a high K⁺ (50 mM) solution, tiliroside exhibited a vasodilator effect similar to that observed in vessels precontracted with phenylephrine. Experiments carried out in nominally Ca²âº-free solution showed that tiliroside antagonized CaCl2-induced contractions. Moreover, tiliroside reduced the rise in intracellular Ca²âº concentration induced by membrane depolarization in vascular smooth muscle cells. Finally, tiliroside decreased the voltage-activated peak amplitude of the L-type Ca²âº channel current in freshly dissociated vascular smooth muscle cells from mesenteric arteries. Altogether, our results point to an antihypertensive effect of tiliroside due to a reduction in peripheral resistance through blockage of voltage-activated peak amplitude of the L-type Ca²âº channel in smooth muscle cells.

Involvement of the L-arginine/nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway in peripheral antinociception induced by N-palmitoyl-ethanolamine in rats.

N-palmitoyl-ethanolamine (PEA) is an endogenous substance that was first identified in lipid tissue extracts. It has been classified as a CB(2) receptor agonist. Exogenous PEA has the potential to become a valid treatment for neuropathic and inflammatory pain. In spite of the well-demonstrated antiinflammatory properties of PEA, its involvement in controlling pain pathways remains poorly characterized. The participation of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in peripheral antinociception has been established by our group to the µ-, κ- or δ-opioid receptor agonists, nonsteroidal analgesics, α(2C) -adrenoceptor agonists, and even nonpharmacological electroacupuncture. The aim of this study was to verify whether the peripheral antinociception effects of PEA involve the activation of this pathway. All drugs were locally administered to the right hind paw of male Wistar rats. The paw pressure test was used, with hyperalgesia induced by intraplantar injection of prostaglandin E(2) . PEA elicited a local peripheral antinociceptive effect that was antagonized by the nonselective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-NOARG and the selective neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitor L-NPA. Selective inhibition of endothelial (eNOS) and inducible (iNOS) NOS via L-NIO and L-NIL, respectively, was ineffective at blocking the effects of a local PEA injection. In addition, the dosage of nitrite in the homogenized paw, as determined by colorimetric assay, indicated that exogenous PEA is able to induce NO release. The soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ antagonized the PEA effect, whereas the cGMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast potentiated the antinociceptive effect of low-dose PEA. This study provides evidence that PEA activates nNOS, thus initiating the NO/cGMP pathway and inducing peripheral antinociceptive effects.

Ketamine activates the L-arginine/Nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway to induce peripheral antinociception in rats.

BACKGROUND: The involvement of the L-arginine/nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in antinociception has been implicated as a molecular mechanism of antinociception produced by several antinociceptive agents, including µ-, κ-, or δ-opioid receptor agonists, nonsteroidal analgesics, cholinergic agonist, and α2C adrenoceptor agonist. In this study, we investigated whether ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, was also capable of activating the L-arginine/NO/cGMP pathway and eliciting peripheral antinociception. METHODS: The rat paw pressure test was used, with hyperalgesia induced by intraplantar injection of prostaglandin E2. All drugs were locally administered into the right hindpaw of male Wistar rats. RESULTS: Ketamine (10, 20, 40, 80 µg/paw) elicited a local antinociceptive effect that was antagonized by the nonselective NOS inhibitor L-NOARG (12, 18, and 24 µg/paw) and by the selective neuronal NOS inhibitor L-NPA (12, 18, and 24 µg/paw). In another experiment, we used the inhibitors L-NIO and L-NIL (24 µg/paw) to selectively inhibit endothelial and inducible NOS, respectively. These 2 drugs were ineffective at blocking the effects of the peripheral ketamine injection. In addition, the level of nitrite in the homogenized paw indicated that exogenous ketamine is able to induce NO release. The soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ (25, 50, and 100 µg/paw) blocked the action of ketamine, and the cGMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast (50 µg/paw) enhanced the antinociceptive effects of low-dose ketamine (10 µg/paw). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that ketamine stimulates the L-arginine/NO/cyclic GMP pathway via neuronal NO synthase to induce peripheral antinociceptive effects.

Effects of sepsis-induced acute lung injury on glycogen content in different tissues.

The metabolic profile is very affected in sepsis, which is the most important cause of extrapulmonary acute lung injury (ALI-EX). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sepsis-induced ALI-EX in mice affects the glycogen content in different tissues. This measurement could indicate performance limitations of tissues and constitute a novel biochemical aspect of ALI. ALI was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), which is a model that reproduces clinical and pathological alterations stemming from sepsis. Control group mice were sham-operated. Glycogen content (mg/g tissue) from different tissues was measured using the anthrone reagent. Glycogen content in the diaphragm (0.3 +/- 0.1) and gastrocnemius muscle (0.4 +/- 0.1) was lower in the sepsis group than the control group (0.9 +/- 0.1 and 1.1 +/- 0.2, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in glycogen content in the heart and kidney. Sepsis caused a greater thickening of the alveolar walls, more areas of atelectasis, and a greater abundance of inflammatory cells in comparison to the control group. These results demonstrate that glycogen content in sepsis-induced ALI-EX is altered in different tissues.

High-refined carbohydrate diet consumption induces neuroinflammation and anxiety-like behavior in mice.

Consumption of poor nutrients diets is associated with fat tissue expansion and with a central and peripheral low-grade inflammation. In this sense, the microglial cells in the central nervous system are activated and release pro-inflammatory cytokines that up-regulate the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), promoting Nitric Oxide (NO) production. The excess of NO has been proposed to facilitate anxious states in humans and rodents. We evaluated whether consumption of a high-refined carbohydrate-containing diet (HC) in mice induced anxiety-like behavior in the Novelty Suppressed Feeding Test (NFST) trough facilitation of NO, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP). We also verified if HC diet induces activation of microglial cells, alterations in cytokine and leptin levels in such regions. Male BALB/c mice received a standard diet or a HC diet for 3 days or 12 weeks. The chronic consumption of HC diet, but not acute, induced an anxiogenic-like effect in the NSF test and an increase in the nitrite levels in the PFC and HIP. The preferential iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine (50 mg/kg, i.p.), attenuated such effects. Moreover, microglial cells in the HIP and PFC were activated after chronic consumption of HC diet. Finally, the expression of iNOS in the PFC and TNF, IL6 and leptin levels in HIP were higher in chronically HC fed mice. Taken together, our data reinforce the notion that diets containing high-refined carbohydrate facilitate anxiety-like behavior, mainly after a long period of consumption. The mechanisms involve, at least in part, the augmentation of neuroinflammatory processes in brain areas responsible for anxiety control.

Activation of eNOS by D-pinitol Induces an Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilatation in Mouse Mesenteric Artery.

D-pinitol is a cyclitol present in several edible plant species and extensively investigated for the treatment of metabolic diseases in humans, as food supplement, and demonstrated protective effects in the cardiovascular system. For these reasons, the present work aimed at investigating the mechanisms involved in the vascular effects of D-pinitol in mouse mesenteric artery. Mesenteric arteries from male C57BL/6 mice were mounted in a wire myograph. Nitrite was measured by the 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) method. Protein expression and phosphorylation were measured by Western blot. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. D-pinitol induced a concentration-dependent vasodilatation in endothelium-intact, but not in endothelium-denuded arteries. Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (300 µM) abolished the effect of D-pinitol, while 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 10 µM) shifted the concentration-response curve to the right. KN-93 (1 µM) blunted the vasodilator effect of D-pinitol, but H-89 (0.1 µM) did not change it. 1-[2-(Trifluoromethyl) phenyl]imidazole (300 µM), indomethacin (10 µM), celecoxib (5 µM), wortmannin (1 µM), ruthenium red (10 µM), tiron (10 µM), MnTMPyP (30 µM), MPP (0.1 µM), PHTPP (0.1 µM), and atropine (1 µM) did not change the effect of D-pinitol. D-pinitol increased the concentration of nitrite, which was inhibited by L-NAME and calmidazolium (10 µM). D-pinitol increased the phosphorylation level of eNOS activation site at Ser1177 and reduced the phosphorylation level of its inactivation site at Thr495. In normotensive mice, the intraperitoneal administration of D-pinitol (10 mg/kg) induced a significant reduction of the SBP after 30 min. The present results led us to conclude that D-pinitol has an endothelium- and NO-dependent vasodilator effect in mouse mesenteric artery through a mechanism dependent on the activation of eNOS by the calcium-calmodulin complex, which can explain its hypotensive effect in mice.

EPA:DHA 6:1 prevents angiotensin II-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in rats: role of NADPH oxidase- and COX-derived oxidative stress.

Eicosapentaenoic acid:docosahexaenoic acid (EPA:DHA) 6:1, an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid formulation, has been shown to induce a sustained formation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase-derived NO, a major vasoprotective factor. This study examined whether chronic intake of EPA:DHA 6:1 prevents hypertension and endothelial dysfunction induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) in rats. Male Wister rats received orally corn oil or EPA:DHA 6:1 (500 mg kg-1 per day) before chronic infusion of Ang II (0.4 mg kg-1 per day). Systolic blood pressure was determined by tail cuff sphingomanometry, vascular reactivity using a myograph, oxidative stress using dihydroethidium and protein expression by immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Ang II-induced hypertension was associated with reduced acetylcholine-induced relaxations of secondary branch mesenteric artery rings affecting the endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH)- and the NO-mediated relaxations, both of which were improved by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor VAS-2870. The Ang II treatment induced also endothelium-dependent contractile responses (EDCFs), which were abolished by the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor indomethacin. An increased level of vascular oxidative stress and expression of NADPH oxidase subunits (p47phox and p22phox), COX-1 and COX-2, endothelial NO synthase and Ang II type 1 receptors were observed in the Ang II group, whereas SKCa and connexin 37 were downregulated. Intake of EPA:DHA 6:1 prevented the Ang II-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction by improving both the NO- and EDH-mediated relaxations, and by reducing EDCFs and the expression of target proteins. The present findings indicate that chronic intake of EPA:DHA 6:1 prevented the Ang II-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction in rats, most likely by preventing NADPH oxidase- and COX-derived oxidative stress.

Potent antihypertensive effect of Hancornia speciosa leaves extract.

BACKGROUND: Hancornia speciosa Gomes is an herb traditionally used in Brazil for blood pressure control. PURPOSE: The present work investigated the antihypertensive effect of an extract from Hancornia speciosa leaves (SFH) and analyzed its underlying mechanisms of action. METHODS: Hypertension was induced in mice by surgical removal of a kidney and by subcutaneous administration of a pellet with deoxycorticosterone. Vasodilatation was measured in mesenteric arteries with a wire myograph. Nitrites were measured by fluorescence with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and H2O2 was measured with carbon microsensors. RESULTS: SFH (0.03, 0.1 or 1 mg/kg; po) induced a dose-dependent, long-lasting reduction in the systolic blood pressure in conscious DOCA-salt hypertensive mice (DOCA). Administration of SFH produced a significant increase in the plasmatic level of nitrites. The systemic inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by L-NAME (20 mg/kg) reduced its antihypertensive effect. SFH also induced a concentration-dependent vasodilatation of mesenteric resistance arteries contracted with phenylephrine, which was more potent in arteries from DOCA mice. Removal of the endothelium or pretreatment with L-NAME or catalase reduced the vasodilator response for SFH. The nitrite production induced by SFH was significantly bigger in mesenteric arteries from DOCA than in SHAM mice. However, the production of H2O2 induced by SFH was twice higher in DOCA mice. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results point to an antihypertensive effect of SFH due to a reduction in peripheral resistance through the production of NO and by a mechanism involving an increased production of H2O2 in the mesenteric arteries from hypertensive mice. These findings are further evidence to support the use of Hancornia speciosa by traditional medicine as an antihypertensive drug.