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  • Title: Artemisia copa aqueous extract as vasorelaxant and hypotensive agent.
    Author: Gorzalczany S, Moscatelli V, Ferraro G.
    Journal: J Ethnopharmacol; 2013 Jun 21; 148(1):56-61. PubMed ID: 23588093.
    Abstract:
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia copa Phil. (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine in Argentina. AIM OF THE STUDY: The vasorelaxant and hypotensive activities of the aqueous extract of Artemisia copa have been investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro effect of the extract and isolated compounds from Artemisia copa was investigated using isolated rat aortic rings. The acute effect caused by the intravenous (i.v.) infusion (0.1-300mg/kg) on blood pressure and heart rate was evaluated in spontaneous hypertensive rats. In addition, a phytochemical analysis of the extract was performed by HPLC. RESULTS: Artemisia copa had a relaxant effect in endothelium-intact aortic rings that had been pre-contracted with 10(-7)M phenylephrine (Emax=96.7±1.3%, EC50=1.1mg/ml), 10(-5)M 5-hydroxytriptamine (Emax=96.7±3.5%, EC50=1.5mg/ml) and 80mM KCl (Emax=97.9± 4.4%, EC50=1.6mg/ml). In denuded aortic rings contracted by phenylephrine, a similar pattern was observed (Emax=92.7±6.5%, EC50=1.8mg/ml). l-NAME, indomethacin, tetraethylammonium and glibenclamide were not able to block the relaxation induced by the extract. Nevertheless, the pre-treatment with Artemisia copa attenuated the CaCl2-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (Emax: 86% of inhibition for 3mg/ml and 52% de-inhibition for 1mg/ml). This pre-treatment also induced a significant attenuation of the norepinephrine-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner (Emax: 72.7% of inhibition for 3mg/ml and 27% de inhibition for 1mg/ml) in a Ca(2+) free medium. Upon analyzing the composition of the extract, the presence of p-coumaric acid, isovitexin, luteolin and chrysoeriol were found. Luteolin (CE50: 1.5μg/ml), chrysoeriol (CE50: 13.2μg/ml) and p-coumaric acid (CE50: 95.2μg/ml), isolated from the aqueous extract, caused dilatation of thoracic aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine. Artemisia copa administered i.v. also induced a decrease in the mean arterial pressure but did not affect the heart rate in hypertensive rats. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extract of Artemisia copa proved to have vasorelaxing and hypotensive effects through the inhibition of Ca(2+) influx via membranous calcium channels and intracellular stores. The presence of luteolin, chrysoeriol and p-coumaric acid found in this plant could be involved in this effect.
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