Therapeutic potential of Ceratonia siliqua extract for the management of asthma and hypertension

Abstract

The current work was performed to explore the pharmacological mechanisms involved in the management of asthma and hypertension along with the safety profile of the Ceratonia siliqua (C. siliqua/Carob) pods. The bronchorelaxant, vasorelaxant, and cardioselective activities of C. siliqua pods were investigated using isolated rabbit tracheal, aortic, and paired atrial fragments on the Power lab data acquisition system. Normotensive rats were used to study antihypertensive activity. The plant extract and its fractions relaxed the carbachol-induced contraction in the tracheal fragments and shifted the concentration-response curve of carbachol towards the right confirming the muscarinic receptor antagonist activity. The relaxation of phenylephrine-induced contraction in an aortic fragment by the extract showed α- adrenergic blocking activity. Furthermore, the extract produced a cardio-selective response in the paired atria and decreased the blood pressure in anesthetized normotensive rats. The plant extract proved to be non-toxic in oral acute and chronic toxicity studies and did not demonstrate any sign of histopathological lesions. These results suggested that the plant extract was non-toxic and could be used in the management of lifetime therapies of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders without any unwanted effects.

Exploring Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.): A Comprehensive Assessment of Its Characteristics, Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemical Aspects, and Pharmacological Activities

“…Cr.Cf induced a hypotensive response in terms of reduction of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, as well as mean arterial pressure during its intravenous administration to normotensive anesthetized rats. The bronchodilator effect may be mediated by antagonism of muscarinic receptors, and they hypothesized that vasodilator and hypotensive effects are mediated by antagonism of α-adrenergic receptors and the involvement of calcium channel blockade as well as the agonist activities of cardio-selective muscarinic [ 159 ]. A study was carried out on the beneficial effects of a commercial carob fruit extract (CSAT+ ® ) on cardiometabolic alterations associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in mice.…”

“…However, mice at a dose of 12 g/kg showed signs of toxicity including increased defecation, decreased mobility, piloerection, and stretching of the forelimbs. No mortality was recorded until the end of the study [ 159 ]. Another study of the acute toxicity of C. siliqua L. was carried out for 18 Wistar rats divided into three groups: The first group orally received a single dose of carob pod extract at 1500 mg/kg of body weight.…”

The effect of genetic variation and mRNA expression of interleukin-17A gene on susceptibility to asthma

“…Asthma patients typically experience recurrent symptoms such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and coughing. The severity of asthma and the duration of symptoms may vary, from mild to moderate to severe (1,2). Research shows that gene Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is closely related to asthma susceptibility.…”

Downregulation of NOX4 improves airway remodeling and inflammation by the TGF-β1-Smad2/3 pathway in asthma

“…These comorbidities contribute to the heterogeneity of asthma, making it a challenging condition to diagnose and treat effectively. Despite its prevalence and impact on quality of life, asthma remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in many cases (3,4). This discrepancy arises from several factors, including the variability in asthma symptoms and the lack of standardized diagnostic criteria.…”