RESUMEN
AIM: To analyze the effect of the use of carvacrol in the cardiovascular system of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Methods: Twenty animals were allocated in four groups, one group control Wistar receiving only sorbitol, used as vehicle of administration of the carvacrol (Wistar-Vehicle), one control group SHR, also receive only sorbitol (SHR-Vehicle), a third, treated with losartan (SHR-Losartan/50 mg/kg), and the fourth, treated with carvacrol (SHR - Carvacrol/20 mg/kg). Sorbitol, losartan and carvacrol were administered by oral gavage daily for 30-day. Hemodynamic variables, vascular reactivity, biochemical parameters, and expression of Mas and AT1 receptors in kidney tissues were analyzed. RESULTS: SHR- Carvacrol group showed a maximal effect of inhibition of 56% in the curve of norepinephrine. The Emax of the curves with Ca2+ were smaller in the groups SHR-losartan (40.17%) and SHR-carvacrol (35.71%) when compared to the SHR-Vehicle. The carvacrol increased the expression of the MAS receptors in kidney tissue. CONCLUSION: Thirty days of treatment with carvacrol showed an antihypertensive effect associated with less peripheral vascular resistance. Also, treatment with carvacrol increased the expression of MAS receptors in kidney tissue.