title: The beneficial effects on blood pressure, dyslipidemia and oxidative stress of Sambucus nigra extract associated with renin inhibitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health effects of Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae) could be due to polyphenols whose modes of action differ from the traditional one proposed for exogenous antioxidants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study emphasizes the effects of the association between the renin inhibitor and the polyphenolic extract on biochemical parameters and systolic (TAS) and diastolic (TAD) blood pressure within an L NAME-induced experimental model of arterial hypertension (AHT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The polyphenols are extracted with ethanol from isolated and purified vegetable material represented by the mature fruit of the S. nigra with a dosage of 0.046 g/kg body weight (PS), every 2 days, for 8 weeks. The dose represents 1/20 of LD50. The Wistar white rat blood pressure values were recorded using a CODA™ system, which uses a non-invasive blood pressure measuring method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total antioxidant capacity levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in AHT group as compared to the rats in the AHT + PS group. A combination of a renin inhibitor (Aliskiren) and polyphenolic extract generated a superior antioxidant effect compared to administering the two separately. Both TAS and TAD in rats with drug-induced hypertension were reduced by polyphenolic extract. The homogeneous values of TAS record a significant decrease (p < 0.001) of the average values in AHT + PS group or AHT + Aliskiren group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of two different classes of substances, namely, renin inhibitors and natural polyphenol extracts, reduces arterial pressure and also might reduce the side effects of the major classes of antihypertensive agents and improve the quality of live.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa' Iasi , Romania.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciocoiu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa' Iasi , Romania.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badescu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa' Iasi , Romania.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Badulescu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology , University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Grigore T. Popa' , Iasi , Romania.
authors.forename: Laurentiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badescu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012083:Renin / Q000378:metabolism; D027924:Sambucus nigra; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012083:Renin; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
keywords: Blood pressure; aliskiren; oxidative stress; polyphenols