Cuminum cyminum, a Dietary Spice, Attenuates Hypertension via Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase and NO Pathway in Renovascular Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Cuminum cyminum (CC) is a commonly used spice in South Indian foods. It has been traditionally used for the treatment and management of sleep disorders, indigestion, and hypertension. The present study was carried out to scientifically evaluate the anti-hypertensive potential of standardized aqueous extract of CC seeds and its role in arterial endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, inflammation, and oxidative stress in renal hypertensive rats. Renal hypertension was induced by the two-kidney one-clip (2K/1C) method in rats. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma nitrate/nitrite, carotid–eNOS, renal–TNF-α, IL-6, Bax, Bcl-2, thioredoxin 1 (TRX1), and thioredoxin reductase 1 (TRXR1) mRNA expressions were studied to demonstrate the anti-hypertensive action of CC. Cuminum cyminum was administered orally (200 mg/kg b.wt) for a period of 9 weeks; it improved plasma nitric oxide and decreased the systolic blood pressure in hypertensive rats. It also up-regulated the gene expression of eNOS, Bcl-2, TRX1, and TRXR1; and down-regulated Bax, TNF-α, and IL-6. These data reveal that CC seeds augment endothelial functions and ameliorate inflammatory and oxidative stress in hypertensive rats. The present report is the first of its kind to demonstrate the mechanism of anti-hypertensive action of CC seeds in an animal model of renovascular hypertension.

• hypertension
• 2K/1C
• Cuminum cyminum
• endothelial function
• inflammation
• oxidative stress

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors acknowledge the Drugs and Pharmaceutical Division, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, for funding the project. Authors also express thanks to all the technical staff of CEFT, SRU, for their help during the experiment.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.