Paeonol protects against hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats by restoring vascular endothelium

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study focused on the effect of paeonol, one of the main components of Guizhi Fuling Pill, on blood pressure, cerebral blood flow, and vascular endothelium injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of hypertension. After treatment with paeonol, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of LSHRT and HSHRT rats decreased gradually with the prolongation of treatment time. The systolic blood flow velocity (Vs), diastolic blood flow velocity (Vd) and mean blood flow velocity (Vm) were significantly increased after paeonol treatment (p < 0.05). Paeonol effectively improved the blood pressure and increased the cerebral blood flow velocity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This may be related to the fact that paeonol reduced the blood viscosity and the oxidative stress and improved the antioxidant capacity. Moreover, paeonol protected vascular endothelial cells and reduced vascular endothelial injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats.