Antihypertensive and Cardioprotective Effects of Pumpkin Seed Oil

Abstract

Pumpkin seed oil is a natural product commonly used in folk medicine for treatment of prostatic hypertrophy. In the present study, the effects of treatment with pumpkin seed oil on hypertension induced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) (50 mg /kg/day) in rats were studied and compared with those of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine. Pumpkin seed oil (40 or 100 mg/kg), amlodipine (0.9 mg/kg), or vehicle (control) was given once daily orally for 6 weeks. Arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, levels of serum nitric oxide (NO) (the concentrations of nitrite/nitrate), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), blood glutathione, and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase activity were measured. Histopathological examination of heart and aorta was conducted as well. L-NAME administration resulted in a significant increase in BP starting from the second week. Pumpkin seed oil or amlodipine treatment significantly reduced the elevation in BP by L-NAME and normalized the L-NAME-induced ECG changes-namely, prolongation of the RR interval, increased P wave duration, and ST elevation. Both treatments significantly decreased the elevated levels of MDA and reversed the decreased levels of NO metabolites to near normal values compared with the L-NAME-treated group. Amlodipine also significantly increased blood glutathione content compared with normal (but not L-NAME-treated) rats. Pumpkin seed oil as well as amlodipine treatment protected against pathological alterations in heart and aorta induced by L-NAME. In conclusion, this study has shown that pumpkin seed oil exhibits an antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects through a mechanism that may involve generation of NO.

Effect of aliskiren, telmisartan and torsemide on cardiac dysfunction in l-nitro arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) induced hypertension in rats

“…In the present study l -NAME induced a time-dependent significant elevation of systolic blood pressure, significant decrease of pulse rate, significant decrease in serum nitric oxide metabolites and significant increase in collagen I and III genes expression in the hearts along with the highest histopathological grade (3) for interstitial fibrosis among all studied groups. The data of the present study are in accordance with the findings of Gonzalez et al [13] who found in addition decrease in cGMP content of the arterial wall, and with El-kharashi et al [14] and El-Mosallamy et al [12] .…”

“…After that animals were sacrificed for heart dissection to detect collagen type I and III gene expression and for histopathological study. Nitric oxide was determined in serum according to the method of El-Mosallamy et al [12] .…”

Synergistic effect of fruit–seed mixed juice on inhibition of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and activation of NO production in EA.hy926 cells

“…Similarly, hemp seeds have a high level of antihypertensive activity because l -arginine, the precursor of NO, exists in abundance (Girgih et al, 2014 ). Pumpkin seeds are also known to lower BP because of their abundant l -arginine, which inhibits the production of MDA in a hypertension model induced by N(ω)-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester hydrochloride and facilitates NO production (El-Mosallamy et al, 2012 ). In addition, the finding that NO production was most active in the 3-mixed juice treatment group was consistent with the vitamin C and E contents.…”

Medicinal bioactivites and allergenic properties of pumpkin seeds: review upon a pediatric food anaphylaxis case report

“…• Cucurbita, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, some gourds idant, pumpkin seeds were shown to have protective activity against cardiovascular diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, by improving plasma lipid profile, lowering blood pressure and attenuating arthrosclerosis development (24)(25)(26). Bioactive macromolecules, such as Tocopherol, Trigonelline, Nicotinic acid and D-chiro-inositol, found in pumpkin seeds, possess hypoglycemic properties and could assist in maintaining glycemic control (27,28).…”