Effect of Calamintha officinalis on Vascular Contractility and Angiotensin-converting Enzyme-2.

AIMS The study aimed to assess the antihypertensive activity ofCalamintha officinalis. BACKGROUND Calamintha officinalis (CO) is a medicinal and aromatic herb widely used for its medicinal properties in several regions as an antihypertensive plant. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the aqueous extract of Calamintha officinalis (AECO) on the vasorelaxant activity and arterial blood pressure under normal and hypertensive state in rats. Additionally, the effect of AECO on vascular angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) was assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the current study, AECO (100 mg/Kg) was prepared and its antihypertensive ability was conducted in L-NG-Nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) hypertensive rats. Blood pressure parameters and heart rate were recorded during 6 h for the acute experiment and during seven days for the subchronic treatment using a tail cuff and a computer-assisted monitoring device. RESULTS The results indicated that AECO reduced the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure in hypertensive rats. In addition, the study demonstrates that AECO exerts a vasorelaxant ability through the sGC-cGMP induction pathway, vascular cyclooxygenase pathway, and the opening of K+ channels. However, AECO had no inhibitory effect on aortic ACE-2. CONCLUSION The study illustrates the beneficial action of AECO as an antihypertensive and vasorelaxant agent from medicinal plants.