Multiple Risk Factors for Heart Disease: A Challenge to the Ethnopharmacological Use of Croton urucurana Baill.

Abstract

Croton urucurana Baill. is a native Brazilian tree, popularly known as “sangra-d’água” or “sangue-de-dragão,” based on the red resinous sap of the trunk. Its use has been transmitted through generations based on popular tradition that attributes analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties to the tree. However, its cardioprotective effects have not yet been scientifically investigated. Thus, the present study investigated the pharmacological response to an ethanol-soluble fraction from the leaves of C. urucurana in Wistar rats exposed to smoking and dyslipidemia, two important cardiovascular risk factors. The extract was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Wistar rats received a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched diet and were exposed to cigarette smoke (9 cigarettes/day for 10 weeks). During the last 5 weeks, the animals were orally treated with vehicle (negative control group), C. urucurana extract (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg), or simvastatin (2.5 mg/kg) + enalapril (15 mg/kg). One group of rats that was not exposed to these risk factors was also evaluated (basal group). Electrocardiograms and systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure were measured. Blood was collected to measure total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, and creatinine. The heart and kidneys were collected and processed for oxidative status and histopathological evaluation. The phytochemical analysis revealed different classes of flavonoids and condensed tannins. The model induced dyslipidemia and cardiac and renal oxidative stress and increased levels of urea and creatinine in the negative control group. Treatment with the C. urucurana extract (300 mg/kg) and simvastatin + enalapril decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In contrast to simvastatin + enalapril treatment, the C. urucurana extract exerted cardiac and renal antioxidant effects. No alterations of electrocardiograms, blood pressure, or histopathology were observed between groups. These findings indicate that C. urucurana exerts lipid-lowering, renal, and cardioprotective effects against oxidative stress in a preclinical model of multiple risk factors for heart disease.

Croton urucurana Baill. Ameliorates Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

“…Despite other studies that indicated the presence of various condensed tannins in C. urucurana , we observed a single peak at m/z 579.149 (peak 10) in the present extract, with a main fragment at m/z 289.070, which was characteristic of (epi)catechin-(epi)catechin, as previously described ( Souza et al, 2008a ; Casao et al, 2020 ). Peak 12 at m/z 291.0862 was identified as catechin, confirmed by comparison with an authentic standard ( Zago et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Thus, we used the 30 mg/kg dose, a 10-times higher dose (i.e., 300 mg/kg), and an intermediate dose on a logarithmic scale (100 mg/kg; Coelho et al, 2019 ). Electrocardiograms, heart rate, and blood pressure in these normotensive and hypertensive rats were described in a previous study by our group ( Zago et al, 2021 ).…”

A New Approach for the Development of Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Two Rat Models of Hypertension

“…Hypertension, dyslipidemia, unhealthy nutrition, and hormonal alterations are known to strongly correlate with worse cardiovascular outcomes, either in the presence or absence of CVD [10]. Although CVD is a global health problem, animal models that combine mul-tiple cardiovascular risk factors are scarce [11]. The present study developed an effective animal model that mimics human conditions of multiple cardiovascular risk factors.…”

Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Preclinical Potential of Pereskia grandifolia in Metabolic‐Associated Fatty Liver Disease

“…Animals were randomly divided into experimental groups, with 8 rats per group. Te selection of this group size was based on previous results from similar experimental protocols and adhered to the 3R principles (reduce, refne, and replace) [12][13][14][27][28][29]. Weights were assessed on a weekly basis using an analytical balance.…”