Estudo comparativo entre triagens farmacológicas de diferentes frações da Pereskia aculeata miller e da Alpinia zerumbet em ratos espontaneamente hipertensos

Abstract

Hypertension is a highly prevalent disease and is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Many patients with hypertension do not reach ideal blood pressure levels, and it is necessary to seek new substances for treatment. In this context, Pereskia aculeata miller and Alpinia zerumbet are medicinal plants used to treat inflammation and hypertension, respectively. There are no scientific studies describing the action of the fractions of these plants on the cardiovascular system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular effects induced by the hexane fraction, insoluble precipitate, dichloromethane from the leaves of P. aculeata and the ethyl acetate fraction from the leaves of A. zerumbet in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). To conduct a literature search on the main phytochemical constituents present in these plants. The SHR were anesthetized, and polyethylene catheters were inserted into the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava for measurement of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and administration of fractions (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40; 50 and 60 mg.kg-1 i.v., respectively). After 24 hours, MAP and heart rate were recorded. All fractions induced hypotensive and bradycardic effects. The main phytochemical constituents of P. aculeata were caftaric acid, quercetin, and rutin, as well as A. zerumbet, 4-terpineol, and kavaine. We can conclude that the responses induced by the P. aculeata fractions are probably due to the antioxidant activity of their constituents and that of the A. zerumbet fraction is due to the calcium channel blockade promoted by its major phytochemical constituents.