Abstract
The present study was performed to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of Morus bombycis KOIDZUMI (MK) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In addition, the effects on vascular responses and cardiac functions were also investigated. In isolated rat aortic preparations, the 100% ethanol extract of MK exhibited a potent vascular relaxant effect with IC50 value of 3.9 μg/ml, and this vasorelaxant effect was completely abolished by pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or the denudation of endothelial layer. In isolated rat hearts, the MK extract significantly reduced cardiac functions such as left ventricular developed pressure and heart rate. In an antihypertensive study in SHRs, long-term administration with MK extracts (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) for 42 d dose-dependently decreased systolic blood pressure (approximately 20 mmHg). In SHRs, MK extract enhanced the aortic relaxation to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside after 42 d of treatment. In addition, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver of SHRs were also attenuated by long-term treatment with MK extract. These results suggest that chronic treatment with MK extract exerts an antihypertensive effect in SHRs, and its direct vasorelaxant, negative inotropic actions, and anti-oxidant properties may contribute to reduce the elevated blood pressure.
