Oral administration of veratric acid, a constituent of vegetables and fruits, prevents cardiovascular remodelling in hypertensive rats: a functional evaluation.

In our previous studies, veratric acid (VA) shows beneficial effect on hypertension and its associated dyslipidaemia. In continuation, this study was designed to investigate the effect of VA, one of the major benzoic acid derivatives from vegetables and fruits, on cardiovascular remodelling in hypertensive rats, primarily assessed by functional studies using Langendorff isolated heart system and organ bath system. Hypertension was induced in male albino Wistar rats by oral administration of N ω -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME) (40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)) in drinking water for 4 weeks. VA was orally administered at a dose of 40 mg/kg b.w. l-NAME-treated rats showed impaired cardiac ventricular and vascular function, evaluated by Langendorff isolated heart system and organ bath studies, respectively; a significant increase in the lipid peroxidation products such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides in aorta; and a significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and levels of GSH, vitamin C and vitamin E in aorta. Fibrotic remodelling of the aorta and heart were assessed by Masson's Trichrome staining and Van Gieson's staining, respectively. In addition, l-NAME rats showed increased heart fibronectin expression assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. VA supplementation throughout the experimental period significantly normalised cardiovascular function, oxidative stress, antioxidant status and fibrotic remodelling of tissues. These results of the present study conclude that VA acts as a protective agent against hypertension-associated cardiovascular remodelling.

Veratric acid ameliorates hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed an atherogenic diet.

An investigation was made to reveal the protective effects of veratric acid (VA), a phenolic acid against atherogenic diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Male albino Wistar rats were fed with atherogenic diet (4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid, and 0.5% 2-thiouracil) daily for 30 days and treated with VA (40 mg/kg body weight) daily for a period of 30 days. Rats fed with atherogenic diet showed significant (P < 0.05) elevation in the level of plasma lipids, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, oxidative stress markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid peroxides) and significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the activities of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (vitamin C, vitamin E, and reduced glutathione) antioxidants in erythrocytes, plasma, and tissues (liver, kidney, and aorta). Oral administration of VA (40 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days to atherogenic diet fed rats markedly attenuates systolic, diastolic blood pressure and lipid peroxidation products. Further, VA treatment significantly improved enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants levels and showed beneficial effects on lipid profile in atherogenic diet rats. All the above alterations were supported by histopathological observations. These results indicate that oral administration of VA ameliorates atherogenic diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats by its free radical scavenging; improving the antioxidants and lipid lowering properties.

Molecular metabolic fingerprinting approach to investigate the effects of borneol on metabolic alterations in the liver of nitric oxide deficient hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is one of the major risk factor that underlie a wide range of cardiovascular irregularities which causes functional and metabolic alterations in vascular system and major organs. Nitric oxide is the central regulator of the vascular system and its deficiency leads to increased blood pressure and metabolic alterations in liver. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that uses infrared radiation to vibrate molecular bonds with in the sample that absorbs it and different samples contain diverse configurations of molecular bonds. Both wavenumber and area of the vibrational spectra can be used to explore the qualitative and quantitative constituent of macromolecules. In this study, we intended to evaluate the protective role of borneol, a natural terpene on liver metabolism in a nitric oxide deficient model of hypertension through interpretation of FTIR spectral information. Results demonstrate that FTIR can successfully indicate the molecular changes that occur in all groups. The over all findings demonstrate that in nitric oxide deficient animal model of hypertension, the liver metabolic program is altered through increasing the structural modification in proteins and triglycerides, and quantitative alteration in proteins, lipids, and glycogen. All the above mentioned modifications were protected by borneol in liver and showed its ability to exert a novel defensive action on hepatic metabolism.

Effect of veratric acid on the cardiovascular risk of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is associated with dyslipidemia, which is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of veratric acid (VA) on blood pressure, plasma, and tissue lipid profile in N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced in adult male albino rats of Wistar strain, weighing 180-220 g, by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg) in drinking water for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with VA (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. L-NAME-treated rats showed significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. A significant increase in the concentrations of plasma, tissue (liver and kidney) lipids, and lipoproteins and a significant decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were noticed in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. The activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase increased significantly in the liver and kidney, whereas the activities of lipoprotein lipase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase were decreased significantly in the plasma of hypertensive rats. Histopathology of liver and kidney and in vitro study also confirmed the biochemical findings of this study. Thus, oral administration of VA reduced hyperlipidemia related to the risk of hypertension.

Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation with lithium and aripiprazole for improving the balance of circulating hormones and brain neurotransmitters in manic mice model.

The present study was designed to evaluate the combined effect of lithium and aripiprazole supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids in methylphenidate (MPD)-induced manic mice. Swiss albino mice were administered with MPD or saline for 14 days, and based on changes in behavioral activities animals were treated with lithium, aripiprazole, and omega-3 fatty acids from the 8th day. Behavioral patterns were analyzed by video tracking. Thyroxine, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels were assayed in serum using ELISA kits. The levels of neurotransmitters in the whole brain were analyzed spectrofluorometrically. Glycogen synthase kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) mice brain mRNA expression levels and phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) protein levels were measured using RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. Results indicated that the administration of MPD alters the behavioral activity, thyroid hormones, FSH, LH, and testosterone levels. Lithium, aripiprazole, and omega-3 fatty acids alone significantly reduced MPD-induced behavior, hormonal, and neurotransmitter abnormalities. However, GSK3ß and pAkt in the brain showed no significant differences in the level of expression. These results reveal that the combination of lithium and aripiprazole supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids provide protective effects against MPD-induced neuroendocrine system and multiple neurochemical abnormalities.

Vanillic acid prevents the deregulation of lipid metabolism, endothelin 1 and up regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in nitric oxide deficient hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is one of the main factors causing cardiovascular diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of vanillic acid against nitric oxide deficient rats. Hypertension was induced in adult male albino rats of Wistar strain, weighing 180-220g, by oral administration of N(ω)-nitro-l arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) 40mg/kg in drinking water for 4 weeks. Vanillic acid was administered orally at a dose of 50mg/kg b.w. Nitric oxide deficient rats showed increased levels of mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and decreased heart nitric oxide metabolites (NOx). A significant increase in the levels of plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), phospholipids (PL), 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in the plasma, liver and kidney and decreased level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) are observed, whereas there is a decrease in the activities of plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) in nitric oxide deficient rats. l-NAME rats also showed an increase in TC, TG, FFA and PL levels in the liver and kidney tissues. Vanillic acid treatment brought the above parameters towards near normal level. Moreover the down regulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and up regulated expression of endothelin 1 (ET1) components was also attenuated by vanillic acid treatment. All the above outcomes were confirmed by the histopathological examination. These results suggest that vanillic acid has enough potential to attenuate hypertension, dyslipidemia and hepatic and renal damage in nitric oxide deficient rats.

The flavonoid morin restores blood pressure and lipid metabolism in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to investigate the antihypertensive and antihyperlipedimic potential of morin against deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats. METHODS: Hypertension was induced in uninephrectomized rats (UNX) by weekly twice subcutaneous injection of DOCA (25 mg/kg) and 1% NaCl in the drinking water for six consecutive weeks. Morin (50 mg/kg) was administered to DOCA-salt rats orally using an intragastric tube daily for a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: The DOCA-salt hypertensive rats showed significant elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and reduction in body weight. A significant increase in the concentrations of plasma and tissue (liver, kidney, heart, and aorta) lipids such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, plasma low-density and very low-density lipoproteins cholesterol, and a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were noticed in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Also, the levels of urinary protein and the activity of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in the plasma and tissues were increased, and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity in the plasma was decreased in DOCA-salt rats. Morin supplementation (50 mg/kg) throughout the experimental period restored all the above parameters significantly. CONCLUSION: Morin has a potential role in attenuating severe hypertension and hyperlipedimia.

Veratric acid, a phenolic acid attenuates blood pressure and oxidative stress in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats.

The present study was undertaken to assess the antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of veratric acid on N(ω)-nitro-L arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced in adult male albino rats of the Wistar strain, weighing 180-220 g, by oral administration of the L-NAME (40 mg/kg body weight/day) in drinking water for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with various doses of veratric acid (20, 40, 80 mg/kg/day) for four weeks. Hypertension was manifested by considerably increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the toxic effect of L-NAME was determined using lipid peroxidative markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid hydroperoxides). We also assessed the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and measured the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin-C, vitamin-E and reduced glutathione) levels in erythrocytes, plasma and tissues and plasma nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite/nitrate). Oral administration of veratric acid at the dosage of 40 mg/kg considerably decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid peroxidation products; increased plasma nitric oxide levels and showed no toxicity which was measured using hepatic and renal function markers when compared to other doses of veratric acid (20, 80 mg/kg). In addition, histopathological findings of veratric acid treated hypertensive rat heart confirmed the biochemical findings of this study. These results suggest that veratric acid decreased the blood pressure, significantly restored nitric oxide, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation products and thus exhibits antihypertensive and antioxidant effects against l-NAME induced hypertension.