Download PDF
Planta Med 2002; 68(5): 412-415
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32079
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Mechanism of Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation Induced by a Proanthocyanidin-Rich Fraction from Ouratea semiserrata

Steyner F. Côrtes1 , Ydia M. Valadares2 , Alaíde Braga de Oliveira2 , Virgínia S. Lemos3 , Marco P.T. Barbosa1 , Fernão Castro Braga2
  • 1Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  • 2Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
  • 3Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

July 24, 2001

November 9, 2001

Publication Date:
07 June 2002 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The vasodilator effects of Ouratea semiserrata stem hydroethanolic extract (OSE) and its ethyl acetate fraction (OSR) were evaluated in endothelium-intact aortic rings. OSR produced a more potent vasodilatation (IC50 = 3.5 ± 0.8 μg/ml) than OSE (IC50 > 30 μg/ml). OSR also presented a higher content of total proanthocyanidins (21.8 ± 1.5 %) in comparison to OSE (6.5 ± 0.4 %), suggesting that compounds of this class play a role in the vasorelaxing activity. The vasodilatation mechanism of OSR was further investigated. In endothelium-intact aortic rings, its vasorelaxing effect was completely abolished by L-NAME (300 μM), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, but not by a muscarinic antagonist (atropine, 1 μM) nor by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin, 10 μM). The OSR vasodilator effect was completely abolished in endothelium-denuded vessels. Furthermore, OSR did not change the vasodilatation produced by SIN-1, an NO donor, in endothelium-denuded vessels. These findings led us to conclude that OSR, a proanthocyanidin rich fraction of O. semiserrata, induces vasodilatation by a mechanism dependent on endothelium-derived factors, likely NO.

Key words

Ouratea semiserrata - Ochnaceae - proanthocyanidin-rich fraction - vasodilator effects - rat aorta - nitric oxide

References

  • 1 Corrêa M P. Dicionário de Plantas Úteis do Brasil e das Exóticas Cultivadas. Vol. 1 - 6 Rio de Janeiro; J Di Giorgio 1974
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 2 Braga F C, Wagner H, Lombardi J A, Oliveira A B. Screening the Brazilian flora for antihypertensive plant species for in vitro angiotensin-I-converting enzyme-inhibiting activity.  Phytomedicine. 2000;  245 245-50
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Velandia J R, De Carvalho M G, Braz-Filho R. Novel trichloro- and tetrachloroisoflavones isolated from Ouratea semiserrata .  Nat Prod Lett. 1998;  12 191-8
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Delle Monache F, D’Albuquerque I L, Marini-Bettolo G B. Su di una nuova proantocianidina dimera da Ouratea .  Ann Chim. 1967;  57 1364-71
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Delle Monache F, Ferrari F, D’Albuquerque I L, Marini-Bettolo G B. Sterechimica delle proantocianidine da Ouratea sp. (Ochnaceae).  Farmaco. 1970;  25 96-105
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Hertog M GL, Feskens E JM, Hollman P CH, Katan M B, Kromhout D. Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease: the Zutphen Elderly Study.  Lancet. 1993;  342 1007-11
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 7 Knekt P, Jarvinen R, Reunanen A, Maatela J. Flavonoid intake and coronary mortality in Finland: a cohort study.  Br Med J. 1996;  312 478-81
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Muldoon F M, Kritchevsky S B. Flavonoids and heart disease.  Br Med J. 1996;  312 458-9
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Duarte J, Vizcaíno F P, Utrilla P, Jiménez J, Tamargo J, Zarzuelo A. Vasodilatory effects of flavonoids in rat aortic smooth muscle. Structure-activity relationships.  Gen Pharmacol. 1993;  24 857-62
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Herrera M D, Zarzuelo A, Jiménez J, Marhuenda E, Duarte J. Effects of flavonoids on rat aortic smooth musckle contractility: structure-activity relationships.  Gen Pharmacol. 1996;  27 273-7
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Fitzpatrick D F, Hirschfield S L, Coffey R G. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxing activity of wine and other grape products.  Am J Physiol. 1993;  65 774-8
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Anbriambeloson E, Magnier C, Haan-Archipoff G, Lobstein A, Anton R, Beretz A, Stoclet J C. Natural dietary polyphenolic compounds cause endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat thoracic aorta.  J Nutr. 1998;  128 2324-33
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Lemos V S, Freitas M R, Muller B, Lino Y D, Queiroga C EG, Côrtes S F. Dioclein, a new nitric oxide- and endothlium-dependent vasodilator flavonoid.  Eur J Pharmacol. 1999;  386 41-6
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Lüscher T F. The endothelium in hypertension: bystander, target or mediator?.  J Hypertens. 1994;  12 S105-116
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Vanhoutte P M, Boulanger C M. Endothlium-dependent responses in hypertension.  Hypertens Res. 1995;  18 87-98
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Hiermann A, Kartnig T h, Azzam S. Ein Beitrag zur quantitativen Bestimmung der Procyanidine in Crataegus .  Sci Pharm. 1986;  54 331-7
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Middleton E, Kandaswami C, Theoharides T C. The effects of plant flavonoids on mammalian cells: implications for inflammation, heart disease, and cancer.  Pharmacol Rev. 2000;  52 673-751
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Packer L, Rimbach G, Virgili F. Antioxidant activity and biologic properties of a procyanidin-rich extract from pine (Pinus maritima) bark, pycnogenol.  Free Rad Biology Med. 1999;  27 704-24
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Mombouli J V, Vanhoutte P M. Endothelial dysfunction: from physiology to therapy.  J. Mol. Cell. Cardiol.. 1999;  31 61-74
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Moncada S, Palmer R MJ, Higgs E A. Nitric oxide: physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology.  Pharmacol Rev. 1991;  43 109-42
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Busse R ., Fleming I. Endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis.  J Vasc Res. 1996;  33 181-94
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Rice-Evans C A, Miller N J, Paganga G. Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of flavonoids and phenolic acids.  Free Rad Biol Med. 1996;  20 933-56
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Andriantsitohaina R, Andriambeloson E, Stoclet J C. Pharmacological approaches of endothelial nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation induced by polyphenols from plant extracts.  Methods Enzymol. 1999;  301 522-32
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar

Fernão Castro Braga

Faculdade de Farmácia da UFMG

Av. Olegário Maciel 2360

CEP 30.180-112


Belo Horizonte

Brazil

Phone: +55 31 3339-7675

Fax: +55 31 3339-7666

Email: fernao@dedalus.lcc.ufmg.br