[Research of sapindus saponins on endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats].

Objective: To investigate the regulation on endothelial function of sapindus saponins in spontaneously hypertensive rats by studying the reactivity on different vasoconstrictor and dilator, and the content of the active substances.

Method: Forty 16-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly divided into five groups, one with placebo as model group, one with captopril tablets (27 mg x kg(-1)) as positive control, one with low-dose sapindus saponins (27 mg x kg(-1)), one with medium-dose (54 mg x kg(-1)), one with high-dose (108 mg x kg(-1)). And another eight healthy Wistar-Kyoto strain (WKY) rats were used as the normal group. The animals were treated for eight weeks, and the indicators to be detected were as follows: (1) the response of thoracic aorta on different vasoconstrictors Ang II (1 x 10(-9) -1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)), PE (1 x 10(-8) 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1)), KCl (20 -120 mmol x L(-1)); (2) the endothelium-dependent or non-endothelium-dependent vasodilation response of thoracic aorta on Ach (1 x 10-(10)-1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1)) or SNP (1 x 10(-8)-1 x 10(-3) mol x (L(-1); (3) the content of NO, 6-KPG1alpha, ET-1 and TXB2 in serum was determined by Elisa.

Result: In SHR model group, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was increased, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation on Ach was reduced, but the effects on SNP was not obvious, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was increased, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was reduced, Vs the normal control group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); in the treatment groups, the response of thoracic aorta on Ang II, PE and KCl was reduced, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of thoracic aorta on Ach was improved, the content of ET-1 and TXB2 was reduced, and the content of NO and 6-KPG1alpha was increased, Vs the SHR model group, there were significant differences (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Our findings suggested that sapindus saponins protected the endothelial function in SHR, the mechanisms were relevant to the protection of endothelial function.