Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 Oct;3(10):776-9. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60154-9. Epub 2013 Sep 4.

Vasorelaxant activity of extracts obtained from Apium graveolens: possible source for vasorelaxant molecules isolation with potential antihypertensive effect.

Jorge VG1, Ángel JR, Adrián TS, Francisco AC, Anuar SG, Samuel ES, Ángel SO, Emmanuel HN.  1Division of Health Sciences, University of Quintana roo, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Electronic address: vgjorge7@uqroo.mx.

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate vasorelaxant effect of organic extracts from Apium graveolens (A. graveolens) which is a part of a group of plants subjected to pharmacological and phytochemical study with the purpose of offering it as an ideal source for obtaining lead compounds for designing new therapeutic agents with potential vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects.

METHODS:  An ex vivo method was employed to assess the vasorelaxant activity. This consisted of using rat aortic rings with and without endothelium precontracted with norepinephrine.

RESULTS:  All extracts caused concentration-dependent relaxation in precontracted aortic rings with and without endothelium; the most active extracts were Dichloromethane and Ethyl Acetate extracts from A. graveolens. These results suggested that secondary metabolites responsible for the vasorelaxant activity belong to a group of compounds of medium polarity. Also, our evidence showed that effect induced by dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts from A. graveolens is mediated probably by calcium antagonism.

CONCLUSIONS:  A. graveolens represents an ideal source for obtaining lead compounds for designing new therapeutic agents with potential vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects.

Copyright © 2013 Asian Pacific Tropical Biomedical Magazine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:  Aortic ring; Apium graveolens; Medicinal plant; Vasorelaxant

PMID:  24075341