title: Aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis decreases nucleotide hydrolysis in rat blood serum.
abstract: Mate is a xanthine-containing beverage, which is prepared as an infusion of the dried and ground leaves of Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. (Aquifoliacea). Previous reports have shown that Ilex paraguariensis has the highest levels of caffeine and theobromine when compared to other Ilex species. Furthermore, mate is able to interfere in the circulatory system, acting as a diuretic and hypotensive agent. Many processes of vascular injury result in the release of adenine nucleotides, which exert a variety of effects. Nucleoside 5' tri- and diphosphates may be hydrolyzed by members of the ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPDase) family. The synchronic action of a NTPDase and a 5'-nucleotidase promotes the catabolism of ATP to adenosine, which is able to control the extracellular nucleotides/nucleosides ratio. The chronic ingestion of aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis by rats during 15 days significantly decreased ATP (55%), ADP (50%) and AMP (40%) hydrolysis in blood serum. These results suggest changes in the balance of purine levels induced by Ilex paraguariensis ingestion. Considering the potential effects of Ilex paraguariensis in the circulatory system, these results may be relevant since NTPDases are a novel drug target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Bioquímica, UNIVATES Centro Universitário, Lajeado, Rua Avelino Tallini, 171 CEP: 95900-000 Caixa Posta 155, Lajeado, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Görgen
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turatti
authors.forename: Afonso R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Andréia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buffon
authors.forename: Carla D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bonan
authors.forename: João J F
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sarkis
authors.forename: Grace S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D030019:Ilex paraguariensis; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014867:Water / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water