title: Effect of Viscum articulatum Burm. (Loranthaceae) in Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester induced hypertension and renal dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viscum articulatum Burm. is used traditionally in Chinese medicine for treating hypertension.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of the methanolic extract of Viscum articulatum (MVA) against N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced hypertension in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six groups of rats were investigated for 4 weeks as normal control, L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day), L-NAME+enalapril (15 mg/kg/day), L-NAME+L-arginine (100 mg/kg/day), L-NAME+MVA (200 mg/kg/day) and L-NAME+MVA (400 mg/kg/day) for four weeks. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured weekly throughout the experimental period. The urine electrolytes concentration, cardiac mass index, serum nitrate/nitrite (NO(x)) level, serum creatinine level and lipid profile were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with MVA (200 and 400 mg/kg) or enalapril delayed the rise in SBP produced by administration of L-NAME. None of the treatments had a significant effect on the depression of the serum NO(x) level caused by L-NAME. The serum creatinine and total cholesterol concentrations were elevated upon administration of L-NAME, and this elevation was prevented by MVA co-administration. The urine volume and urine potassium ion level were depressed by L-NAME administration and this effect being inhibited in MVA and enalapril groups. There was no cardiac hypertrophy and HR change after 28 day of L-NAME administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that MVA may have an antihypertensive effect in the NO deficient type of hypertension, which may be attributed to its diuretic, nephroprotective and hypolipidemic actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, R.C. Patel Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Near Karwand Naka, Shirpur, District Dhule 425 405, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Sagar S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bachhav
authors.forename: Mukesh S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bhutada
authors.forename: Savita D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.forename: Bhavana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baser
authors.forename: Kishor B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012076:Renal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects; D028181:Viscum
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012076:Renal Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004656:Enalapril; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester