Document Type

Article (Restricted)

Publication Date

7-1-2005

Abstract

Flavonoids are known to possess cardioprotective properties. Vascular endothelial function is a surrogate marker for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. We have studied the effects of chronic flavonoid treatment on vascular endothelial functions in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Starting from 6–7 weeks old, SHR were given flavonoids (baicalein, flavone, or quercetin) orally (10 mg/kg, once daily) to the SHRs for 4 weeks. Aortas from all the flavonoid-treated animals showed remarkably higher endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, to a similar extent as those pretreated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. However, in contrast to other experimental groups, flavone pretreatment also enhanced the endotheliumindependent relaxations to sodium nitroprusside. In addition, treatment with either flavone or quercetin induced a significant attenuation in systolic blood pressure of the hypertensive animals. The present results suggest that chronic treatment with the flavonoids (baicalein, flavone, and quercetin) preserves vascular endothelial functions in hypertensive animals through several possible actions, including increasing endothelial nitric oxide production and bioavailability and reduction in blood pressure.

Keywords

Hypertension, Vascular Endothelium, Nitric Oxide, Blood Pressure, Flavonoids

Publication Title

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Divisions

fac_med

Volume

46

Issue

1

Publisher

Elsevier

Additional Information

Reprints: Mohd Rais Mustafa, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia (e-mail: rais@um.edu.my).

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