Improvement of endothelial function by Gunnera tinctoria extract with antioxidant properties
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Biological Research Open Access
Improvement of endothelial function by Gunnera tinctoria extract with antioxidant properties Constanza Sabando1, Maité Rodríguez‑Díaz2, Walther Ide1, Edgar Pastene3,4, Marcia Avello3, Mario Simirgiotis5, Susana Rojas6, Enrique Villarroel6, Tiare Silva‑Grecchi7, Cristian Gutiérrez8, Rebeca Bouza9, Bárbara Cicchelli10, Marcelo González6,10,11* and Saddys Rodríguez‑Llamazares1,12*
Abstract Background: Gunnera tinctoria has been collected by Mapuche-Pewenche people for food and medicinal purposes. The high polyphenol content of methanolic extract from G. tinctoria leaves with chemical constituents such as ellagic acid and quercetin derivatives suggests its application to prevent endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to provide evidence of the protective effect of this extract on endothelial function by reduc‑ ing oxidative stress induced by high d-glucose and H 2O2, as well as by stimulating nitric oxide (NO) levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results: A methanolic extract with a high content of polyphenols (520 ± 30 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry extract) was obtained from G. tinctoria leaves. Its main constituent was ellagic acid. The results of Ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays of the extract confirmed its antioxidant activity by inhibition pathway of radical species. The incubation of HUVECs with the extract decreased the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis induced by high extracellular concentration of d-glucose or hydrogen peroxide. The extract increased endothelial NO levels and reduced vasoconstriction in human placental vessels. Conclusions: This study provides evidence about the antioxidant and endothelial protective properties of metha‑ nolic G. tinctoria leaf extract. The extract improves the availability of NO in HUVECs, inhibiting the production of ROS and vasoconstriction. Keywords: Gunnera tinctoria, Methanolic extract, Endothelial function, Antioxidant activity
*Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected] 1 Centro de Investigación de Polímeros Avanzados (CIPA), Avda. Collao 1202, Edificio de Laboratorios, Concepción, Chile 10 Laboratorio de Investigación Materno‑Fetal (LIMaF), Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 160‑C, Concepción, Chile Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Background The collection of wild plants for medicinal purposes is an ancient tradition that has endured in the Mapuche community. Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirb., which belongs to Gunnera genus, is widely distributed in South America and has been collected by Mapuche-Pewenche people for food and medicinal purposes. Thus, decocts of leaves, petioles or roots were prepared to assist in the treatment of dysentery [1]. Estomba et al. [2] suggested that G. tinctoria may have beneficial effects in curing urinary, high respirator
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