Download PDF
Drug Res (Stuttg) 2013; 63(09): 439-444
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348246
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Pharmacological Studies on Myrica rubra Sieb et zucc. Effects on the Cardiovascular System and Platelets

M. F. AlAjmi
1   Departments of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
B. M. Al-Hadiya
2   Departments of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
K. E. H. El Tahir
3   Departments of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 21 October 2012

accepted 21 January 2013

Publication Date:
26 June 2013 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The effects of 50% Drink of Myrica rubra (MRD) on the cardiovascular system of the rat and on the platelets aggregation of rats and guinea pigs were studied.

Method:

Different groups of male Wistar rats were treated either with 50% Myrica rubra drink as drinking vehicle (4 weeks) or water. The animals were then prepared for the measurement of arterial blood pressure and heart rate, ECG, sensitivity of the baroreceptors, platelets’ aggregation, blood clotting time and cardiac parasympathetic ganglia. The mechanism of action of any induced effect was elucidated using different receptor blockers.

Results:

Treatment induced a significant decrease in the arterial blood pressure and heart rate on Wistar rats, but no significant changes in the ECG were observed. Pretreatment of rats with MRD 10 or 20 ml/kg (i. p.) significantly suppressed vagal electrical stimulation to the heart and nicotine-induced bradycardia, via decreasing phenylephrine-induced rise in the arterial blood pressure and the reflexly-induced bradycardia. It significantly suppressed the Baroreceptor Sensitivity Index (BSI). The treatment also significantly suppressed ADP-induced platelets aggregation in rats and arachidonic acid-induced aggregation in guinea pigs.

Discussion:

All these actions seemed to be mediated by the MRD constituents such as proanthocyanidins, polyphenols and flavonoids. The decreases in the heart rate and BSI were probably caused by an inherent ability to block the parasympathetic ganglia.

Conclusion:

The results of this study regarding the effects of MRD actions on the cardiovascular system and platelets qualify the drink to be classified as a functional food.

Key words

drink of Myrica rubra - experimental animals - arterial blood pressure - heart rate - coagulation
 

  • References

  • 1 Fang F, Zhang M, Tao G et al. Chemical composition of Clarified bay berry (Myrica rubra Sieb et Zucc.) Juice sediment. J Agric Food Chem 2006; 54: 7710-7716
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Saito M, Hosoyama H, Ariga T et al. Antiulcer activity of grape seed extract and procyanidins. J Agric Food Chem 1998; 46: 1460-1464
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Tao J, Morikawa T, Toguchida I et al. Inhibitors of nitric oxide production from the bark of Myrica rubra : Structures of new biphenyl type diarylheptanoid glycosides and taraxerane type triterpene. Bioorganic Med Chem 2002; 32: 527-533
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Tong Y, Zhou X-M, Wang S-J et al. Analgesic activity of myricetin isolated from Myrica rubra Sieb Zucc. Leaves. Planta Medica 2009; 76: 1492-1496
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Cheng HY, Lin T-C, Ishimaru KK et al. In vitro anti-viral activity of prodelphinidin B-2 3,3’-di-O-gallate from Myrica rubra . Planta Medica 2003; 69: 953-956
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Yokozawa I, Cho EJ, Park CH et al. Protective effect of proanthocyanidin against diabetic oxidative stress evidence-based. Complem Alter Med 2012; 1-11
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Dixon RA, Xie DY, Sharma SB. Proanthocyanidins – a final frontier in flavonoids research?. New Philologist 2005; 165: 9-28
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Lee YA, Cho EJ, Yokozawa R. Effects of proanthocyanidin preparations on hyperlipidemia and other biomarkers in mouse model type 2 diabetes. J Agric Food Chem 2008; 56: 7781-7789
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Kuo P-L, Hsu YL, Lin TG et al. Induction of apoptosis in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells by prodelphinidin B-2, 3,3-di-o-gallate from Myrica rubra via fas-mediated pathway. J Pharm Pharmacol 2004; 56: 1399-1406
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Bakheet DM, El Tahir KEH, Al-Sayed MI et al. Studies on the cardiovascular depressant effects of N-ethyl and N-benzyl-1,2-diphenyl ethanol amines in the rat: Elucidation of the mechanisms of action. Gen Phamracol 1999; 33: 17-22
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Bult H, Bonta IL. Prostaglandin endoperoxides, serotonin and the perused rabbit aorta: possible pitfalls in the bio-assay of rabbit aorta contracting substance (RCS). Agents Actions 1976; 6: 712-720
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Coleman RW. (1980). Arterial baroreflex control of heart rate in the conscious rat. Am J Physiol 2003; 128: H515-H520
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Crill WE, Reis DJ. Distribution of carotid sinus and depressor nerves in cat brain stem. Am J Physiol 1968; 214: 269-276
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Daly CJ, Dunn WR, McGarath JC et al. An examination of the sources of calcium for contraction mediated by post junction α1 and α2 – adrenoceptors in several blood vessels isolated from rabbit. Br J Pharmacol 1990; 99: 253-260
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 El Tahir KEH, Williams KI. Factors affecting prostacyclin formation by the rat pregnant myometrium. Br J Pharmacol 1980; 71: 641-647
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 El Tahir KEH, El-Naser MA, Ageel AM et al. Antiaggregatory activity of N=methyl- and N-isobutyl-1,2-diphenyl ethanolamines in rat platelets. Archiev Int Pharmacodynm Ther 1990; 307: 162-171
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 El Tahir KEH, El-Nasser MA, Ageel AM et al. Cardiovascular depressant effects of n-methyl- and N-isobutyl-1,2-diphenyl ethanol amine: elucidation of the mechanism of action. Arh Int Pharmacodyn Ther 1991; 309: 88-102
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 El Tahir KEH, Ashour MMS, Al-Harbi MM. The cardiovascular actions of the volatile oil of the black seed (Nigella Sativa) in rats: Elucidation of the mechanism. Gen Pharmacol 1993; 241: 1123-1131
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Glick G, Braunwald E. Relative role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in the reflex control of heart rate. Circ Res 1965; 16: 363-375
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Leikert JF, Rathel TR, Wohlfart P et al. Red wine polyphenols enhance endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and subsequent nitric oxide release from endothelial cells. Circulation 2002; 106: 1614-1617
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Duffy SJ, Vita JA. Effects of phenolics on vascular endothelial function. Current Opinion in Lipidology 2003; 14: 21-27
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Perez-Vizcaino F, Durate J, Andriantsitohania R. Endothelial function and cardiovascular disease: Effects of quercetin and wine polyphenols. Free Radical Res 2006; 40: 1054-1065
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Hodgson J. Effects of tea and tea flavonoids on endothelial function and blood pressure. A brief review. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2006; 33: 838-841
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Jouad H, Lacaille-Dubios MA, Loussi B et al. Effects of flavonoids extracted from Spergularia Purpurea Pers. On arterial blood pressure and renal function in normal and hypertensive rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2001; 76: 159-163
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Hallam TJ, Simpson AW, O’Connor N et al. Control and interrelation of aggregation and secretion; the roles of Ca+2, diacylglycerol and thromboxane with particular reference to ADP stimulation. Adv Exp Med Biol 1985; 192: 145-162
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Hourani SM, Hall DA. Receptors for ADP on human blood platelets. Trends Pharmacol Sc 1994; 15: 103-108
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Hourani SO, Cussack NJ. Pharmacological receptors on blood platelets. Pharmacol Rev 1991; 43: 243-298
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Kirckheim HR. Systemic arterial baroreceptor reflexes. Physiol Rev 1976; 56: 100-176
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Kunze DL. Reflex discharge patterns of cardiac vagal efferent fibers. J Physiol Lond 1972; 222: 1-15
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Miura M, Reis DJ. Termination and secondary projections of carotid sinus nerve in the nucleus and its efferent pathway in brain stem. Am J Physiol 1969; 217: 142-153
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Ollerenshaw JD, Heagerty AM, Swales JD. Noradrenalin stimulation of phosphoinositide system: evidence for a novel hydrophobic isonsitol-containing compound in resistance arterioles. Br J Pharmacol 1988; 94: 363-370
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Puri RN, Colman RF, Colman RW. Platelet activation by 2-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio) adenosine 5’-diphosphate is mediated by the binding to a putative ADP receptor, aggregin. Eur J Biochem 1996; 236: 862-870
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Sage SO, Sageant P, Merritt JE et al. Agonist-evoked Ca + 2 entry in human platelets [letter, comment. Biochem J 1992; 285: 341-344
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Seller H, Illert M. The localization of the first synapse in the carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex pathway and its alteration of the afferent input. Pflugers Arch 1969; 306: 1-19
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Siess W. Molecular mechanism of platelet activation. Physiol Rev 1989; 69: 58-178
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Sperelakis N. Regulation of calcium slow channels of heart by cyclic nucleotides and effects of ischemia. Adv Pharmacol 1994; 31: 1-24
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Varga K, Gantenberg NS, Kunos G. Endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediates ethanol inhibition of vagaly mediated reflex bradycardia elicited from aortic baroreceptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1994; 268: 1057-1062
    PubMedGoogle Scholar