title: [Vasodilator effect mediated by nitric oxide of the Zea mays L (andean purple corn) hydroalcoholic extract in aortic rings of rat].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the vasodilator response of the hydroalcoholic extract of Zea mays L. (Andean purple corn) and to determine if this response is mediated by nitric oxide (NO).
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained an extract by maceration for eight days of Andean purple corn cobs in 70% ethanol and subsequent concentration of the product. Thoracic aortic rings were evaluated in an isolated organ chamber, bathed with Krebs-Hensleit solution (KH), and vasomotor activity was recorded with an isometric tension transducer. Basal contraction was produced with 120 mM KCl and then, we proceeded to determinate the vasodilator effect of 3 doses of the extract: 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/mL. We used L-NG-Nitroarginin methyl ester (L-NAME) to verify that the vasodilation depends on nitric oxide sinteasa (NOs). Then we compared the inhibition of vascular contraction after incubation for 30 minutes, with purple corn extract and captopril 10-5 M.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a reduction in maximum contraction (100%) to 85.25 ± 2.60%, 77.76 ± 3.23%, and 73.3 ± 4.87% for doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1,0 mg/mL respectively. The vasodilation was inhibited by prior incubation with L-NAME. Andean purple corn extract did not inhibit vascular contraction as captopril did (reduction to 75.27 ± 8.61%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hydroalcoholic extract of Zea mays L produces NO dependent vasodilation.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional San Agustín, Arequipa, Perú. oscarml5@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moreno-Loaiza
authors.forename: Azael
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paz-Aliaga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide