Antihypertensive Effect of Euphorbia cheiradenia in Rats

Abstract

Aims: The study aimed to investigate the effect of Euphorbia cheiradenia on blood pressure.

Background: Euphorbia cheiradenia is a medicinal plant with several medicinal properties.

Objective: This study aimed to study the vasorelaxant and antihypertensive capacity of the aqueous extract of Euphorbia cheiradenia (E. cheiradenia), and to evaluate its effect on angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

Methods: The antihypertensive ability of aerial parts of the aqueous extract of E. cheiradenia (AEEC) was investigated in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, and its vasorelaxant effect was performed on the isolated thoracic rat aorta. In addition, the possible inhibitory effect of AEEC on ACE2 was also studied.

Results: AEEC lowered blood pressure parameters in hypertensive rats. The study of the vasorelaxant activity revealed that AEEC partially relaxed the aortic rings through activation of the KATP channel and inhibition of the β-adrenergic pathway. Whereas pretreatment of aortic rings with nifedipine, indomethacin, L-NAME, and methylene blue did not attenuate AEEC-induced vasorelaxation. However, AEEC did not affect ACE2 in isolated rat aortas.

Conclusion: The study showed that aqueous E. cheiradenia extract exhibits significant antihypertensive activity in hypertensive rats.

Keywords: Euphorbia cheiradenia; ACE2; Hypertension; KATP channels; L-NAME; adrenergic receptors β; vasorelaxant.