(−)-Epicatechin reduces blood pressure increase in high-fructose-fed rats: effects on the determinants of nitric oxide bioavailability

摘要: Abstract This work investigated the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of flavanol (−)-epicatechin in a model metabolic syndrome. Rats were fed regular chow diet without (Control) or with 10% (w/v) fructose drinking water (high fructose, HF) for 8 weeks. A subgroup HF-fed rats was supplemented 20 mg/kg body weight (HF-EC). Dietary reverted increase BP caused by treatment. In aorta, superoxide anion production and expression NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunits p47phox p22phox enhanced rats. The prevented (−)-epicatechin. Similar profile observed NOX4 expression. activity aorta nitric oxide synthase (NOS) increased HF group even higher HF-EC These effects paralleled endothelial NOS phosphorylation at activation site Ser1177. Among more relevant mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways vascular tissue, c-Jun-N-terminal shown to be activated rats, supplementation mitigated this activation. Thus, results suggest that dietary hypertension decreasing elevating activity, favoring an NO bioavailability.