Antihypertensive Effect of Silymarin on Fructose Induced Hypertensive Rats

Abstract:

The present study was carried out to investigate the antihypertensive effect of Silymarin (300 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, p. o., for 6 weeks) in fructose induced hypertensive rats. Fructose feeding induces a rise in blood pressure in normal rats and is associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertension was induced by administration of fructose 10 % solution for six weeks. Systolic blood pressure (BP) was measured once every week during the treatment schedule. After completion of treatment schedule, heart rate, arterial blood pressure and vascular reactivity to various drugs were recorded. Rats from individual group were sacrificed, the heart was dissected out and antioxidant enzyme level SOD, CAT, GSH and TBARS were measured. A cumulative concentration-response curve (CCRC) of Ang II was carried out in isolated shifted strips of ascending colon. The results suggest that Silymarin could prevent the development of high blood pressure induced by a diet rich in fructose, probably by reversing the metabolic alterations induced by fructose. The results tend to suggest that Silymarin possesses antihypertensive activity.

Keywords: Fructose, Hypertension, Silymarin, Antioxidant, Insulin.