https://www.uaeh.edu.mx/investigacion/icap/LI_NutrMinRum/Deya_Ojeda/1.pdf

Inhibition of angiotensin convertin enzyme (ACE) activity by the anthocyanins delphinidin- and cyanidin-3-O-sambubiosides from Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Leaves and roots live in dramatically different habitats, but are parts of the same organism. Automated image processing of time-lapse records of these organs has led to understanding of spatial and temporal patterns of growth on time scales from minutes to weeks. Growth zones in roots and leaves show distinct patterns during a diel cycle (24 h period). In dicot leaves under nonstressful conditions these patterns are characterized by endogenous rhythms, sometimes superimposed upon morphogenesis driven by environmental variation. In roots and monocot leaves the growth patterns depend more strongly on environmental fluctuations. Because the impact of spatial variations and temporal fluctuations of above- and belowground environmental parameters must be processed by the plant body as an entire system whose individual modules interact on different levels, growth reactions of individual modules are often highly nonlinear. A mechanistic understanding of plant resource use efficiency and performance in a dynamic...

Environmental Effects on Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Leaf and Root Growth

Selaginella (spikemoss) is an enigma in the plant kingdom. Although a fascination to botanists at the turn of the twentieth century, members of this genus are unremarkable in appearance, never flower, and are of no agronomic value. However, members of this genus are relicts from ancient times, and one has to marvel at how this genus has survived virtually unchanged in appearance for hundreds of millions of years. In light of the recent completion of the Selaginella moellendorffii genome sequence, this review is intended to survey what is known about Selaginella, with a special emphasis on recent inquiries into its unique biology and importance in understanding the early evolution of vascular plants.

Selaginella and 400 Million Years of Separation

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a key component in the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) which regulates blood pressure. As the over expression of RAAS is associated with vascular hypertension, ACE inhibition has become a major target control for hypertension. The research on potential ACE inhibitors is expanding broadly and most are focused on natural product derivatives such as peptides, polyphenolics, and terpenes. Plant polyphenolics are antioxidant molecules with various beneficial pharmacological properties. The current study is focused on investigating and reviewing the ACE inhibitory property of fruit flavonoids. An apple skin extract (ASE) rich in flavonoids, the major constituents of the extract and their selected metabolites were assessed for the ACE inhibitory property in vitro. It is important to investigate the metabolites along with the flavonoids as they are the constituents active inside the human body.

/pdf/plant-flavonoids-as-angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitors-491v49kize.pdf

Plant flavonoids as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in regulation of hypertension

Butein, a Tetrahydroxychalcone, Inhibits Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB and NF-κB-regulated Gene Expression through Direct Inhibition of IκBα Kinase β on Cysteine 179 Residue *

Screening of vasorelaxant activity of some medicinal plants used in Oriental medicines.

Butein (3,4,2′,4′-tetrahydroxychalcone), a plant polyphenol, has been known to elucidate endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In the present study, the hypotensive effect of butein and its possible mechanism, especially an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory effect, were investigated. Intravenous injection of butein lowered the arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats in a dose-dependent manner. The plasma ACE activities were significantly inhibited by the addition of butein in a dose-dependent manner, the IC50 value of which was 198 μg/ml (730 μM). Moreover, angiotensin I-induced contraction was markedly attenuated by prior exposure of endothelium-intact aortic rings to butein, but angiotensin II-induced contraction was not altered. These results suggest that butein has a hypotensive effect, at least in part, via the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme.

Hypotensive effect of butein via the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme.

In the courses of in vitro screening for the vasorelaxant effect of the various extracts from medicinal plants, an ethyl acetate-soluble extract of Selaginella tamariscina was found to exhibit distinctive vasorelaxant activity. Further purifications of the extract as guided by in vitro vasorelaxant assay afforded an active biflavonoid, amentoflavone. Amentoflavone induced concentration-dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta, which disappeared by removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the aortic tissues with N(G)-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), methylene blue, or 1 H- -oxadiazolo[4,3- a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) inhibited the relaxation induced by amentoflavone. Amentoflavone-induced relaxations were also markedly attenuated by addition of tetraethylammonium (TEA) or verapamil. However, the relaxant effect of amentoflavone was not blocked by pretreatment with indomethacin, glibenclamide, atropine, or propranolol. Incubation of endothelium-intact aortic rings with amentoflavone increased the production of cGMP, but this effect was blocked by endothelium-denudation or pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ. These results suggest that amentoflavone relaxes vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-cGMP signaling, with possible involvement of non-specific K (+) and Ca (2+) channels. Abbreviations. EDRF:endothelium-derived relaxing factor EDHF:endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor NO:nitric oxide cGMP:guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide L-NAME: N(G)-nitro- L-arginine methyl ester ODQ:1 H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3- a]-quinoxalin-1-one IBMX:3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine K (Ca):Ca (2+)-dependent K (+) channel K (ATP):adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K (+) channel TEA:tetraethylammonium

Ming Hao Yin

Papers

Screening of vasorelaxant activity of some medicinal plants used in Oriental medicines.

Hypotensive effect of butein via the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme.

Vasorelaxation by amentoflavone isolated from Selaginella tamariscina.

A pharmaceutical composition comprising the extract of selaginella tamariscina for treating or preventing cardiovascular system disease