title: Crocetin, a carotenoid derived from saffron (Crocus sativus L.), improves acetylcholine-induced vascular relaxation in hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is associated with endothelial dysfunction characterized by decreased vasorelaxation. Crocetin, a bioactive compound of saffron, exhibits favorable cardiovascular properties. We analyze the vasomodulatory effects of crocetin in hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Myographical experiments were performed to compare the relaxation induced by acetylcholine (ACH) on aortic rings from normotensive (Wistar) and hypertensive (SHR) rats, incubated with or without crocetin or saffron extract and L-NAME or indomethacin. Extracts were also assayed in deendothelialized rings. UV-vis spectrophotometry and HPLC-DAD were used to characterize and quantify the saffron used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crocetin enhanced the ACH relaxations in aorta from hypertensive (strongly) and normotensive rats (weakly). Saffron extract did not modify this. Crocetin plus L-NAME abolished the relaxant response in SHR but not in Wistar aorta. Crocetin plus indomethacin did not modify the indomethacin response in either SHR or Wistar aorta. Crocetin in rubbed segments did not modify the ACH responses. In contrast, saffron increased this response in rubbed segments from SHR but not Wistar rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Crocetin exerts healthy vasomodulatory effects in hypertension, strongly improving endothelium-dependent ACH relaxations via endothelial nitric oxide but not the cyclooxygenase pathway. This work proposes that crocetin supplements are a possible complement in the therapy of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Serrano-Díaz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Gonzalo Luis
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Llorens
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009213:Myography; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C487773:trans-sodium crocetinate; D014801:Vitamin A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002338:Carotenoids; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000109:Acetylcholine