title: Effect of curcuma herbs on vasomotion and hemorheology in spontaneously hypertensive rat.
abstract: Curcuma herbs have a vasodilator effect. The effects of C. longa, which induces only endothelium-independent vasodilatation, and C. zedoaria, which induces both endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilatation, were studied on vasomotion and hemorheology in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive eight-week-old male rats were assigned to five groups. For 12 weeks, the control group received standard chow. The 3%CL (C. longa) group received standard chow containing 3% (wt/wt) C. longa. The 1%CZ and 3%CZ (C. zedoaria) groups received standard chow containing 1% and 3% (wt/wt) C. zedoaria, respectively. The captoril group received standard chow and 100 mg/kg/day of captoril in drinking water. Blood pressure, vasomotion, hemorheology, etc. were examined. Systolic blood pressure of the 3%CZ and captoril groups decreased significantly as compared to the control group. Acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations of the 3%CZ and captoril groups were increased to a greater degree, significantly, than the control group. When testing xanthine oxidase-induced contraction, the 3%CZ group was significantly decreased as compared to the control group. Low shear stress of whole blood viscosity showed the 3%CL and 3%CZ groups to be decreased significantly compared to the control group. Thus, Curcuma herbs have hypotensive and protective effect on the endothelium in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Especially, C. zedoaria is more effective than C. longa, and its mechanism is thought to be related to a radical scavenging effect and improvement of hemorheology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kampo Diagnostics, Institute of Natural Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan. hiro510@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hirozo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fushimi
authors.forename: Naotoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shibahara
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Katsuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D030024:Curcuma; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018056:Hemorheology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents