Role of store-operated calcium entry in imperatorin-induced vasodilatation of rat small mesenteric artery

Inhibition of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and potassium channels activation are involved in the vasorelaxation induced by 7-hydroxycoumarin

Coumarins exhibit a wide variety of biological effects, including activities in the cardiovascular system and the aim of this study was to evaluate the vascular therapeutic potential of 7-Hydroxicoumarin (7-HC). The vascular effects induced by 7-HC (0.001 μM-300 μM), were investigated by in vitro approaches using isometric tension measurements in rat superior mesenteric arteries and by in silico assays using Ligand-based analysis. Our results suggest that the vasorelaxant effect of 7-HC seems to rely on potassium channels, notably through large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ (BK_Ca) channels activation. In fact, 7-HC (300 μM) significantly reduced CaCl₂-induced contraction as well as the reduction of intracellular calcium mobilization. However, the relaxation induced by 7-HC was independent of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Moreover, in silico analysis suggests that potassium channels have a common binding pocket, where 7-HC may bind and hint that its binding profile is more similar to quinine's than verapamil's. These results are compatible with the inhibition of Ca²⁺ release from intracellular stores, which is prompted by phenylephrine and caffeine. Taken together, these results demonstrate a therapeutic potential of 7-HC on the cardiovascular system, making it a promising lead compound for the development of drugs useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Reduced store-operated Ca2+ entry impairs mesenteric artery function in response to high external glucose in type 2 diabetic ZDF rats

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affecting both endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs) have been implicated in many diabetic complications. Vascular dysfunction is common in patients with diabetes, but the role of SOCCs in diabetic vasculopathy is still unclear. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of high glucose (HG) on store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in small arteries. Small mesenteric arteries from type 2 diabetic Zucker fatty rats (ZDF) versus their non-diabetic controls (Zucker lean, ZL) were examined in a pressurized myograph. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were isolated and intracellular Ca2+ was measured (Fura 2-AM). A specific protocol to deplete intracellular Ca2+ stores and thereby open SOCCs, as well as pharmacological SOCE inhibitors (SKF-96365, BTP-2), were used to artificially activate and inhibit SOCE, respectively. High glucose (40 mmol/L) relaxed arteries in a SKF-sensitive manner. Diabetic arteries exhibited reduced HG-induced relaxation, as well as reduced contraction after Ca2+ replenishment. Further, the rise in intracellular Ca2+ on account of SOCE is diminished in diabetic versus non-diabetic VSMCs and was insensitive to HG in diabetic VSMCs. The expression of SOCC proteins was measured, detecting a downregulation of Orai1 in diabetes. In conclusion, diabetes leads to a reduction of SOCE and SOCE-induced contraction, which is unresponsive to HG-mediated inhibition. The reduced expression of Orai1 in diabetic arteries could account for the observed reduction in SOCE.

Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Toxicology of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson (CMC) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been widely grown and used in Asia. It is also known as "She chuang zi" in China (Chinese: ), "Jashoshi" in Japan, "Sasangia" in Korea, and "Xa sang tu" in Vietnam. This study aimed to provide an up-to-date review of its phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology. All available information on CMC was collected from the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and China Network Knowledge Infrastructure. The updated chemical structures of the compounds are those ones without chemical ID numbers or references from the previous review. A total of 429 chemical constituents have been elucidated and 56 chemical structures have been firstly identified in CMC with traceable evidence. They can be categorized as coumarins, volatile constituents, liposoluble compounds, chromones, monoterpenoid glucosides, terpenoids, glycosides, glucides, and other compounds. CMC has demonstrated impressive potential for the management of various diseases in extensive preclinical research. Since most of the studies are overly concentrated on osthole, more research is needed to investigate other chemical constituents.

Terminalia fagifolia Mart. & Zucc. elicits vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta through nitric oxide and K+ channels dependent mechanism

Terminalia fagifolia Mart. & Zucc. (Combretaceae) is a plant commonly found in the regions of the Brazilian cerrado, popularly used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. There are no reports in the literature on the use of T. fagifolia for the treatment of the cardiovascular system conditions. Nevertheless, plants of the same genus, such as Terminaliaarjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn and Terminaliasuperba Engler & Diels, present cardioprotective, hypotensive and vasodilatating effects. In light of this, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the ethanolic extract (Tf-EE) and of its aqueous (Tf-AQF), hexanic (Tf-HEXF) and hydroethanolic (Tf-HAF) partition fractions obtained from the stem bark of T.fagifolia Mart. & Zucc. The effects of the extract and partition fractions of T. fagifolia were evaluated on isometric tensions in the thoracic aorta rings of Wistar rats (250–300 g). Tf-EE, Tf-HEXF and Tf-HAF presented a concentration-dependent vasorelaxant effect, and Tf-AQF presented a vasorelaxant effect that was more potent in the presence of endothelium. The relaxation curves of the aorta promoted by the fraction investigated were attenuated in the presence of the following pharmacological tools: L-NAME, ODQ or PTIO. The vasorelaxant effect of the aorta promoted by Tf-AQF was attenuated in the presence of TEA and 4-AP. Tf-EE induced a concentration-dependent and endothelium-independent vasorelaxation. Tf-HAF and Tf-HEXF presented concentration-dependent and vascular-endothelium-independent vasorelaxation, but did not obtain 100% of relaxation. On the other hand, Tf-AQF presented concentration-dependent vasorelaxation that was more potent in aorta rings with vascular endothelium. The relaxant mechanism induced by the Tf-AQF involves the NO/sGC/cGMP pathway and channels Kv.

Summary: The investigation of the relaxing effect of extract and fractions of the stem bark partition of Terminalia fagifolia on aortic rings is a pioneering study involving the participation of K⁺ channels, which demonstrates a potential alternative therapeutic method for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Biomolecular Targets of Oxyprenylated Phenylpropanoids and Polyketides

Oxyprenylated secondary metabolites (e.g. phenylpropanoids and polyketides) represent a rare class of natural compounds. Over the past two decades, this group of phytochemicals has become a topic of intense research activity by several teams worldwide due to their in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, and to their great therapeutic and nutraceutical potential for the chemoprevention of acute and chronic diseases affecting humans. Such investigations have provided evidence that oxyprenylated secondary metabolites are able to interact with several biological targets at different levels accounting for their observed anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, and metabolic effects. The aim of the present contribution is to provide a detailed survey of the so far reported data on the capacities of selected oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids and polyketides to trigger receptors, enzymes, and other types of cellular factors for which they exhibit a high degree of affinity and therefore evoke specific responses. With respect to the rather small amounts of these compounds available from natural sources, their chemical synthesis is also highlighted.

The anti-inflammation effect of Baige capsule and its principal components mixture in MCAO rats

BACKGROUND

Baige (BG) is a compound Chinese herbal preparation, constituted of different position extracts (ethanol extracts from Pueraria lobate and SFE-CO₂ extracts from Radix Angelicae dahuricae) of P. lobata and A. dahurica to treat the brain injury in patients.

AIM

The goal of this study was to identify the neuroprotective properties of BG and its principal component mixture (PCM) and verify whether the material basis for BG is its PCM.

METHODS

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was operated on male Sprague-Dawley rat for 2 h, different doses of BG or PCM or vehicle were gavaged after 3 h of MCAO. Rats were sacrificed after 30 days treatment. Blood serum inflammation factors and NGF were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

After 30 days of treatment, both BG and PCM interventions reduced the infarct volume, modified neurological severity score (mNSS) in rats, declined IL-1β and IL-6 levels in the serum, increased NGF level in the serum and recovered the number of Nissl body in injured brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Both BG and PCM exert equivalent levels of recovery effect in MCAO on rats; and PCM is the material foundation of BG. This recovery effect is associated with inflammatory inhibition and NGF production.

Antidepressive-like effect of imperatorin from Angelica dahurica in prenatally stressed offspring rats through 5-hydroxytryptamine system

Adolescence is a time of continued brain maturation, particularly in limbic and cortical regions, which undoubtedly plays a role in the physiological and emotional changes. Prenatally stressed offspring rats were used to investigate the potential antidepressive-like effects of imperatorin (IMP) extracted from the root of radix angelica. After 4 weeks of treatment of IMP, behavioral tests (sucrose-preference test, forced-swimming test, and open-field test) were measured. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration in the hippocampus and frontal cortex was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serotonin transporters (5-HTT) and 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) mRNA expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex were also determined by real-time PCR. Administration with IMP (15 and 30 mg/kg/day, intragastrically) for 28 days markedly increased the percentage of sucrose (anhedonia), decreased the immobility time, and increased the number of total crossings, center crossings, rearing, and grooming in the male prenatally stressed offspring. Meanwhile, we found that 5-HT concentration in the hippocampus and frontal cortex was significantly increased in the IMP-treated group. Subsequently, we found significantly decreased 5-HTT and increased 5-HT1AR mRNA expressions in the hippocampus and frontal cortex after IMP treatment in the prenatally stressed male offspring. IMP showed antidepressive-like effects and increased 5-HT concentration in male prenatally stressed offspring, suggesting that IMP could be of therapeutic use in preventing depressive-like behavior in adolescence.

Imperatorin-pharmacological meaning and analytical clues: profound investigation

Imperatorin, a furanocoumarin derivative, has many documented pharmacological properties which make it a candidate for possible drug development. In this review, the activity on the central nervous system, the anticancer and antiviral properties and the influence on the cardiovascular system are described. The aim of this review is also to present an overview of the techniques used for the analysis, isolation, and separation of imperatorin from plant material from the practical perspective.

SKF-96365 activates cytoprotective autophagy to delay apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells through inhibition of the calcium/CaMKIIγ/AKT-mediated pathway

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) inhibitors are emerging as an attractive new generation of anti-cancer drugs. Here, we report that SKF-96365, an SOCE inhibitor, exhibits potent anti-neoplastic activity by inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. In the meantime, SKF-96365 also induces cytoprotective autophagy to delay apoptosis by preventing the release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Mechanistically, SKF-96365 treatment inhibited the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIγ (CaMKIIγ)/AKT signaling cascade in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of CaMKIIγ or AKT abolished the effects of SKF-96365 on cancer cells, suggesting a critical role of the CaMKIIγ/AKT signaling pathway in SFK-96365-induced biological effects. Moreover, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an FDA-approved drug used to inhibit autophagy, could significantly augment the anti-cancer effect of SFK-96365 in a mouse xenograft model. To our best knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that calcium/CaMKIIγ/AKT signaling can regulate apoptosis and autophagy simultaneously in cancer cells, and the combination of the SOCE inhibitor SKF-96365 with autophagy inhibitors represents a promising strategy for treating patients with colorectal cancer.

Cnidium monnieri: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Properties

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss., an annual plant of the Umbelliferae species is one of the most widely used traditional herbal medicines and its fruits have been used to treat a variety of diseases in China, Vietnam, and Japan. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity and contraindication of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. and to provide future directions of research on this plant. To date, 350 compounds have been isolated and identified from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss., including the main active constituent, coumarins. In vitro and in vivo studies suggest that osthole and other coumarin compounds possess wide range of pharmacological properties for the treatment of female genitals, male impotence, frigidity, skin-related diseases, and exhibit strong antipruritic, anti-allergic, antidermatophytic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-osteoporotic effects. Although coumarins have been identified as the main active constituents responsible for the observed pharmacological effects, the molecular mechanisms of their actions are still unknown. Therefore, further studies are still required to reveal the structure-activity relationship of these active constituents. In addition, toxicological and clinical studies are also required to provide further data for pharmaceutical use.

Effect of Imperatorin on the Spontaneous Motor Activity of Rat Isolated Jejunum Strips

Imperatorin, a psoralen-type furanocoumarin, is a potent myorelaxant agent acting as a calcium antagonist on vascular smooth muscle. Its effects on other types of smooth muscle remain unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesized myorelaxant effect of imperatorin on gut motor activity and, possibly, to define the underlying mechanism of action. Imperatorin was made available for pharmacological studies from the fruits of the widely available Angelica officinalis through the application of high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC). Imperatorin generated reversible relaxation of jejunum strips dose-dependently (1–100 μM). At 25 and 50 μM, imperatorin caused relaxation comparable to the strength of the reaction induced by isoproterenol (Isop) at 0.1 μM. The observed response resulted neither from the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, nor from β-adrenoreceptor involvement, nor from Ca²⁺-activated potassium channels. Imperatorin relaxed intestine strips precontracted with high potassium concentration, attenuated the force and duration of K⁺-induced contractions, and modulated the response of jejunum strips to acetylcholine. The results suggest that imperatorin probably interacts with various Ca²⁺ influx pathways in intestine smooth muscle. The types of some calcium channels involved in the activity of imperatorin will be examined in a subsequent study.

Antihypertensive and vascular remodelling effects of the imperatorin derivative OW1 in renovascular hypertension rats

OW1 is a novel imperatorin derivative that exhibits vasodilator activity. In the present study, the antihypertensive effect of and inhibition of vascular remodelling by OW1 were investigated in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats. Rats were subjected to the 2K1C procedure and treated with OW1 (40 or 80 mg/kg per day) for 8 weeks. Blood pressure was measured in conscious rats. Microalbumin (mALB) and total protein (U-TP) concentrations were determined in the urine, as were plasma concentrations of angiotensin (Ang) II, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE). The unclipped kidney was stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome, whereas aortic sections were stained with Masson trichrome. In addition, OW1-induced vasodilatation was evaluated in vitro in rat mesenteric and renal arteries. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to quantify collagen I and III expression. OW1 relaxed rat mesenteric and renal arterial rings in vitro. Treatment of 2K1C hypertensive rats with OW1 (40 and 80 mg/kg per day) for 8 weeks significantly decreased blood pressure. In addition, OW1 reduced plasma AngII and ACE concentrations and increased plasma CGRP concentrations. At 80 mg/kg per day, OW1 decreased blood urea nitrogen, mALB and U-TP levels. Histological analysis revealed that OW1 reduced renal arteriolar thickness and relieved the structural hypertrophic arteries. Moreover, OW1 had an inhibitory effect on vascular remodelling and renal lesions in hypertensive rats. In conclusion, the results suggest that OW1 could potentially be a novel candidate for hypertension intervention.

Hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects induced by the ethanolic extract of the Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (Mimosaceae) inflorescences in normotensive rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Caatinga is highly influenced by its seasonality. This species is endemic in the northeastern region, which is rich in plants with pharmacological potential. Many of these plants are used by the population and some of them have confirmed pharmacological properties. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (Mimosaceae) is a native plant from northeastern Brazil׳s caatinga, popularly known as sabiá and cascudo. The tea from the inflorescence of this species is used by the population of the semi-arid for the treatment of hypertension, and the utilization of the plant bark for the staunching of bleedings and wound washing in order to prevent inflammation; also, the ingestion of the bark infusion is used in the treatment of bronchitis. However, its pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action have not yet been studied. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the ethanolic extract of M. caesalpiniifolia on the cardiovascular system in rats.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In a study for the assessment of the hypotensive effect of the extract, the polyethylene catheters were inserted in the aorta artery and inferior vena cava for the measurement of the arterial pressure and heart rate. When intragastric administration was performed, only one catheter was implanted in the abdominal aorta. In studies for the vasorelaxant activity, mesenteric arterial rings (1-2mm) were used: they were kept in Tyrode׳s solution (95% O2 and 5% CO2) and submitted to tension of 0.75 g/f for 1h. The results were expressed as mean ± S.E.M., significant to the values of p<0.05.

RESULTS

The administration of the doses through venous pathway (6.25; 12.5 and 25mg/kg, i.v.) promoted hypotension followed by bradycardia in the higher doses. The pre-treatment with atropine (2mg/kg, i.v.) interrupted both the hypotension and the bradycardia; with hexamethonium, hypotension was reverted and bradycardia was attenuated. While the administration of tea/flowers (25mg/kg i.v.) also promoted a following section of hypotension, a slight increase in heart rate was observed. When administered orally, MC-EtOH/flowers (100mg/kg, v.o.) promoted a decrease in the arterial pressure from 90 min on, without a significant alteration in the heart rate in relation to the control. In the in vitro study, a pharmacological trial was performed with the extracts obtained from parts of the species M. caesalpiifolia (leaves, bark, fruit and inflorescences). Among all extracts tested, the ethanolic extract from the inflorescences (MC-EtOH/flowers) presented higher vasorelaxant potency in relation to the other parts of the plant. Henceforth, MC-EtOH/flowers was used in the sequence. In mesenteric preparations pre-contracted with phenylephrine (10(-5)M), the MC-EtOH/flowers (0.1-750 µg/ml) promoted vasorelaxant effect regardless of the vascular endothelium. MC-EtOH/flowers inhibited the contractions induced by the cumulative addition of phenylephrine (10(-9)-10(-5)mol/l) or CaCl2 (10(-6)-3 × 10(-2)M), in a concentration-dependent way. In contractions induced by S(-)Bay K 8644, a Cav-L activator, the MC-EtOH/flowers promoted concentration-dependent relaxation, corroborating previous results.

CONCLUSION

The tea of flowers of M. caesalpiniifolia promotes hypotension and tachycardia, whereas ethanolic extract (MC-EtOH) promotes hypotension and bradycardia involving the participation of the muscarinic and ganglionic pathways, as well as vasorelaxant action involving the Ca(2+) influx inhibition blockade.

Isolation and evaluation of the myorelaxant effect of bergapten on isolated rat jejunum

CONTEXT

Plants of the genus Heracleum L. (Apiaceae) have a long history of being used in traditional medicines for the treatment of alimentary tract disorders, and these biological effects have been ascribed to the presence of furanocoumarins (including bergapten).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to develop an efficient, preparative, counter-current chromatographic separation of bergapten in order to characterize its spasmolytic activity in isolated rat jejunum strips.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Successful separation of the dichloromethane extract of the fruits of Heracleum leskovii Grossh. was achieved by high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-heptane/EtOAc/MeOH/H2O (6:5:6:5, v/v/v/v). The pharmacological assessment of bergapten (0.0001-50 μM) on jejunum smooth muscle strips isolated from rats was conducted under isotonic conditions, following up to three hours of incubation.

RESULTS

The separation method was scaled up six-fold from analytical to semi-preparative conditions, affording bergapten of >99% purity in less than 30 min. This permitted bergapten to be available in quantity for spasmolytic tests on isolated jejunum strips from rats. Bergapten caused myorelaxation of the intestine preparations in the concentration range of 0.0001-1 μM. At higher doses, bergapten caused either relaxation or contraction of the smooth muscle.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Bergapten was successfully isolated by rapid HPCCC and its spasmolytic activity was confirmed, thereby providing a preliminary evidence base for the traditional medicine application. The data suggest that bergapten causes no irreversible changes to intestinal tissue.

Vasodilation and radical-scavenging activity of imperatorin and selected coumarinic and flavonoid compounds from genus Casimiroa

Hypertension is a very widespread condition which is not strictly considered as an illness but if not countered, progressively causes damage to all tissues and loss in their functionality. For this reason the find of new antihypertensive agents is prominent and medicinal plants and their derivatives are valuable for the purpose. The genus Casimiroa (Rutaceae) includes plants from Central America and Mexico; among these, Casimiroa edulis Llave et Lex. and Casimiroa pubescens Ramirez are the most relevant species, even for their medicinal uses. The decoction of leaves and seeds is traditionally taken as a tea mainly to lower blood pressure. The object of this research was the study of vascular activity of coumarinic and flavonoid compounds isolated from seeds of Casimiroa spp. in comparison with Casimiroa edulis and Casimiroa pubescens extracts. The phenolic compounds isolated from Casimiroa were herniarin (Her), imperatorin (Imp), 8-geranyloxypsoralen (GOP) and 5,6,2',3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF). All these compounds induced vasorelaxation on rat arterial tissues although with different effectiveness. To study the cellular mechanisms of the vasorelaxation exhibited by imperatorin, we used selective inhibitors of different receptors and enzymes, such as atropine, pyrilamine, nifedipine, L-NAME and DETC. In a further step of this research, we evaluated the radical-scavenging activity of Casimiroa extracts and isolated compounds by means of DPPH assay. In general, we observed that the scavenging activities increased in a concentration-dependent manner for all substances. The phenolic compounds highlight a synergism of vasodilation and antioxidant activity which may be very useful in the management of cardiovascular diseases. Among the evaluated compounds, imperatorin shows a significant vasorelaxant activity even higher than acetylcholine and similar to nitrite, and also useful antiradical capabilities. All these properties suggest its possible role against hypertension and vasculopathies, even if in vivo studies are needed to determine the actual applications.

Effects of imperatorin, the active component from Radix Angelicae (Baizhi), on the blood pressure and oxidative stress in 2K,1C hypertensive rats

The 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K,1C) model of hypertension was used to investigate the potential antihypertensive and antioxidant effect of imperatorin extracted from the root of radix angelicae. After 10 weeks treatment of imperatorin, mean blood pressure (MBP) of 2K,1C hypertensive rats was obtained, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were measured. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CATA), xanthine oxidase (XOD), angiotensinII (Ang II) and endothelin (ET) levels of kidney were evaluated with commercial kits. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidephosphate (NADPH) oxidase subunits of the renal cortial tissues were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. 8-Iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) of 24h urinary excretion was also measured by ELISA. MBP was significantly reduced by treatment with IMP (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg/day, i.g.) in 2K,1C hypertensive rats. Meanwhile, we found that renal CATA and XOD activities, GSH levels, plasma NO and NOS contents were significantly increased in IMP-treated groups. Plasma ET, renal Ang II levels, MDA and the 24h urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF2α in the IMP treated group were lower than control SD group. After that, we found the mRNA expressions and protein levels of NADPH oxidase subunits in the clipped kidney were markedly reduced after IMP treated in 2K,1C hypertensive rats. IMP showed antihypertensive and antioxidant effects in the renal injury of renovascular hypertensive rats, suggesting that IMP could be of therapeutic use in preventing renal injury related hypertension.