The flavonoid morin restores blood pressure and lipid metabolism in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate the antihypertensive and antihyperlipedimic potential of morin against deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats.


METHODS
Hypertension was induced in uninephrectomized rats (UNX) by weekly twice subcutaneous injection of DOCA (25 mg/kg) and 1% NaCl in the drinking water for six consecutive weeks. Morin (50 mg/kg) was administered to DOCA-salt rats orally using an intragastric tube daily for a period of 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The DOCA-salt hypertensive rats showed significant elevation in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and reduction in body weight. A significant increase in the concentrations of plasma and tissue (liver, kidney, heart, and aorta) lipids such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids, plasma low-density and very low-density lipoproteins cholesterol, and a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were noticed in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Also, the levels of urinary protein and the activity of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in the plasma and tissues were increased, and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity in the plasma was decreased in DOCA-salt rats. Morin supplementation (50 mg/kg) throughout the experimental period restored all the above parameters significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Morin has a potential role in attenuating severe hypertension and hyperlipedimia.
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Pichavaram
P
Prahalathan
Murugesan
M
Saravanakumar
Boobalan
B
Raja
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D047309:Flavones
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D005419:Flavonoids; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D012965:Sodium Chloride; C008548:morin; D047309:Flavones