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Complexation of the Antihypertensive Drug Olmesartan with Zn: In Vivo Antihypertensive and Cardiac Effects

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Abstract

This study is based on the premise that the application of chemical synthesis strategies to structurally modify commercial drugs by complexation with biometals is a valid procedure to improve their biological effects. Our purpose is to synthesize a compound with greater efficacy than the original drug, able to enhance its antihypertensive and cardiac pharmacological activity. Herein, the structure of the coordination compound of Zn(II) and the antihypertensive drug olmesartan, [Zn(Olme)(H2O)2] (ZnOlme), is presented. After 8 weeks of treatment in SHR male rats, ZnOlme displayed a better blood pressure-lowering activity compared with olmesartan, with a noticeable effect even in the first weeks of treatment, while ZnCl2 showed similar results than the control. ZnOlme also reduced left ventricle (LV) weight and left ventricle/tibia length ratio (LV/TL), posterior wall thickness (PWT), and intraventricular septum in diastole (IVSd) suggesting its potential to prevent LV hypertrophy. Besides, ZnOlme reduced interstitial fibrosis (contents of collagen types I and III, responsible for giving rigidity and promoting vascular elasticity, respectively). The recovery of heart function was also evidenced by fractional shortening (diastolic left ventricular/systolic left ventricular) diameter determinations. Furthermore, ZnOlme increased the antioxidant capacity and prevented cardiac oxidative stress: it enhanced the reduction of reactive oxygen species generation, exerted a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation and enhanced glutathione contents in heart tissues compared to the control, Zn, and olmesartan treatments. Our results demonstrate that continuous oral administration of ZnOlme causes a better antihypertensive effect and grants enhancement of cardioprotection through antioxidant activity, in combination with hemodynamic improvement.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank to Leandro Di Cianni for the technical support to measure the blood pressure.

Funding

The following grants supported this work: UNLP [X/871, V720], CONICET [PIP 1999], CICPBA and ANPCyT [PICT-2019-0945] Argentina. AGRG and VRM are fellowship holders of CONICET. ELP, VDG, and EGF are research fellows of CONICET and PAMW is research fellow of CICPBA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEQUINOR-CONICET-CICPBA-UNLP, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Bv. 120 N° 1465, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Andrés G. Restrepo Guerrero, Evelina G. Ferrer & Patricia A.M Williams

  2. CIC-CONICET-UNLP, Facultad de Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 120, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Valeria R. Martinez, Jorge O. Velez Rueda & Verónica De Giusti

  3. Laboratorio de Análisis de Imágenes, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 60 y 118, 1900, La Plata, Argentina

    Enrique L. Portiansky

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  1. Andrés G. Restrepo Guerrero
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Contributions

Andrés G. Restrepo Guerrero: conceptualization, methodology, software, data curation. Valeria R. Martinez: methodology, data curation, writing—original draft review and editing. Jorge O. Velez Rueda: methodology and data curation. Enrique L. Portiansky: conceptualization, methodology, writing—review and editing. Verónica De Giusti; methodology writing—review and editing. Evelina G. Ferrer: conceptualization, methodology, writing—review and editing. Patricia A.M Williams: conceptualization, methodology, writing original draft—review and editing, supervision.

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Correspondence to Valeria R. Martinez or Patricia A.M Williams.

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Restrepo Guerrero, A.G., Martinez, V.R., Velez Rueda, J.O. et al. Complexation of the Antihypertensive Drug Olmesartan with Zn: In Vivo Antihypertensive and Cardiac Effects. Biol Trace Elem Res 202, 246–257 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-023-03670-8

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