title: Control of hypertension in rats using volatile components of leaves of Taxus chinensis var. mairei.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae) is used traditionally to fill pillows in some rural areas of China. Its volatile substances have been speculated to be capable of improving sleep quality, making blood pressure stable, and having diuretic capacity as recorded in Ancient Chinese Materia Medica. Using animal models and new technologies, we confirmed the hypotensive potential of volatile components from leaves of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (VCLT).
  
  
  METHODS
  VCLT was obtained by supercritical CO(2) extraction equipment from Taxus chinensis var. mairei fresh leaves. Hypertensive rats were pre-induced by intraperitoneal (i,p.) injection of Nω-Nitro-l-Ariginine (l-NNA) for 15 days (15mg/kg, twice a day), then divided into 5 groups and subjected to the following treatments. l-NNA group (group 1) receiving l-NNA alone (15mg/kg, i.p., twice per day for 6 weeks); in addition to receiving l-NNA same as group 1, Hydrochlorothiazide (HDZ) group (group 2) receiving HDZ (orally administration, 5mg/kg, once per day for 6 weeks); VCLT groups (groups 3-5), including VCLT1, VCLT2, VCLT3. The VCLT rats were housed in an enclosed cage (2 rats/0.064m(3)). VCLT was mixed well and sprayed on fresh leaves surface of Taxus chinensis var. mairei (100ml/kg) with three dosages: 167g/kg (VCLT1), 233g/kg (VCLT2) and 333g/kg (VCLT3), respectively. Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), plasma nitric oxide (NO), plasma angiotensin II, postprandial blood glucose, fasting blood glucose and blood lipids were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VCLT prevented the increase of SBP and plasma angiotensin II in l-NNA treated rats. Although VCLT does not significantly reduce blood triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), it decreases total cholesterol (TC) while increasing plasma NO levels in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VCLT can be used as a natural and supplementary reagents for the treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Life Science College of Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. snywx@nwsuaf.edu.cn
authors.forename: Wei-Xia
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhang-Guang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lai-Hong
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shan-Jiang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zong-Suo
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D025924:Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D019335:Nitroarginine; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020946:Taxus / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; D006852:Hydrochlorothiazide; D000804:Angiotensin II; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide