Blood pressure reducing effects of Phalaris canariensis in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

The birdseed Phalaris canariensis (Pc) is popularly used as an antihypertensive agent. the aqueous extract of Pc (AEPc) was administered in adult normotensive Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in prehypertensive young SHR (SHRY, 3 weeks old). Animals received AEPc (400 mg.kg(-1).day(-1), by gavage) for 30 days, then groups were divided into 2 subgroups: one was treated for another 30 days and the other received water instead of AEPc for 30 days. AEPc reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in both adult groups; however, treatment interruption was followed by a gradual return of the SBP to baseline levels. SHRY became hypertensive 30 days after weaning. AEPc minimized the increase in SBP in SHRY, but blood pressure rose to levels similar to those in the untreated group with treatment interruption. There were no changes in renal function, diuresis, or Na+ excretion. Pc is rich in tryptophan, and the inhibition of the metabolism of tryptophan to kynurenine, a potential vasodilator factor, prevented the blood pressure reducing effect of AEPc. Moreover, AEPc significantly reduced sympathoexcitation. Data indicate that the metabolic derivative of tryptophan, kinurenine, may be a mediator of the volume-independent antihypertensive effect of Pc, which was at least in part mediated by suppression of the sympathetic tonus.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundacao Oswaldo Ramos (FOR)Fed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Renal, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, Cardiovasc Div, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Div Renal, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, Cardiovasc Div, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc