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Chlorella pyrenoidosa ameliorated L-NAME-induced hypertension and cardiorenal remodeling in rats

European Journal of Nutrition volume 52, pages 601–608 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Hypertension is one of the main factors causing cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of Chlorella pyrenoidosa on blood pressure and cardiorenal remodeling in rats with N ω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Methods

Rats were fed a diet containing L-NAME (40 mg/kg) with or without chlorella (4 or 8 %) for 5 weeks. We found that chlorella retarded the development of hypertension and cardiorenal remodeling during the 5-week experimental period.

Results

Although there was no difference in NO x levels or plasma arginine concentrations, plasma and tissues ACE activities were significantly lower in the chlorella groups than in the L-NAME group. Moreover, tissue tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations and renal CYP4A expression were also lower in the chlorella group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that chlorella might ameliorate the elevation of blood pressure and show cardiorenal-protective effects in nitric oxide-deficient rats, and one possible mechanism might be mediated by its ACE inhibitory activity.

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Acknowledgments

All the authors have seen and approved the contents of the submitted manuscript. All the authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest, and all the authors adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines on research and publication ethics. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The contribution of each author was as follows: Yi-Ching Yang, Hsiang-Chi Peng, Pei-Yin Ho: doing experiments; Su-Ching Yang, Hsin-Yi Yang: writing of the manuscript and designing the study.

Conflict of interest

All authors have no relevant conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Su-Ching Yang, Yi-Ching Yang & Hsiang-Chi Peng

  2. Department of Nutrition, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City, 82445, Taiwan

    Hsin-Yi Yang

  3. Department of Nutrition, Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yi-Ching Yang

  4. Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Pei-Yin Ho

Authors
  1. Su-Ching Yang
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  2. Hsin-Yi Yang
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Correspondence to Hsin-Yi Yang.

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Yang, SC., Yang, HY., Yang, YC. et al. Chlorella pyrenoidosa ameliorated L-NAME-induced hypertension and cardiorenal remodeling in rats. Eur J Nutr 52, 601–608 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0362-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-012-0362-0

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