title: Hydroalcoholic extract and pure compounds from Senecio nutans Sch. Bip (Compositae) induce vasodilation in rat aorta through endothelium-dependent and independent mechanisms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Senecio nutans Sch. Bip. (Compositae) is an endemic plant of South America, and is used in herbal medicine in Andean communities for treating acute mountain sickness. Currently, the direct effects of hydroalcoholic extract of S. nutans (HAE S. nutans) or its isolated compounds on the vascular system are not well described. The aim of this study was to determine the effects and mechanism of action of S. nutans on vascular function in healthy rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven compounds were isolated from the HAE S. nutans, and their structures were characterized using spectroscopic techniques as 1D and 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry. Vascular reactivity experiments were carried out in rat aorta. S. nutans-dependent vasodilation and phenylephrine-dependent contraction were measured in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded aortic rings of male rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven pure compounds were isolate from HAE S. nutans, but two pure compounds showed significant vasodilation in rat aorta: 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)acetophenone (compound E) and 5-acetyl-6-hydroxy-2-isopropenyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofurane (compound G). Although HAE S. nutans induced vasodilation in absence of endothelium, the vasodilation in intact aorta, via NO, was higher. HAE S. nutans reduced calcium-dependent contraction in endothelium-intact, but not in endothelium-denuded aortic rings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAE S. nutans and its isolated compounds caused vasodilation in rat aorta in absence of endothelium, suggesting its vasodilator properties is endothelium-dependent (NO) and or independent, and may involve a modulation of the calcium channels. This result is of clinical interest as potential therapy control of blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Biológica, Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Adrián
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paredes
authors.affiliation: (b)Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de EtnoFarmacología (IDE), Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile. Electronic address: clpalaci@unap.cl.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: (b)Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de EtnoFarmacología (IDE), Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quispe
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences Physiology Section, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica, W.I.
authors.forename: Chukwuemeka R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Nwokocha
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Química Biológica, Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Glauco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental (EPhyL), Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Jovan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuzmicic
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Fisiología Experimental (EPhyL), Instituto Antofagasta (IA), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.
authors.forename: Fredi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D066241:Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012674:Senecio / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Calcium; Endothelium; Rat aorta; Senecio nutans; Vasodilation