Serjania erecta Radlk. improves endothelial function in isolated aortic rings

Arterial hypertension presents a high incidence in the population, and it is a chronic degenerative disease. The roots of Serjania erecta Radlk. popularly known as “cipó-cinco-folhas”, are used as a decoction against hypertension. This plant belongs to the Sapindaceae family and is plentiful in the Brazilian swamps. The present study was designed to study the effects of daily intake of S. erecta root decoction on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and vascular reactivity in thoracic aorta rings in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The decoction was prepared from the powder of the roots at a final concentration of 5% in solution, which is an appropriate level of administration according to some modifications of the dessert test, for 32 consecutive days. The MAP and HR were measured directly and presented no changes between groups. Vascular reactivity was tested by concentration-effect curves for noradrenaline obtained from thoracic aorta rings with (+E) and without (-E) endothelium. In SHR, treatment reduced vascular reactivity (+E) (0.92 ± 0.18 vs. control SHR: 1.68 ± 0.26 g), and the presence of L-NAME abolished this effect (treated SHR: 1.94 ± 0.30 g). The aorta rings (-E) exhibited no changes. In conclusion, the decoction of S. erecta roots is effective in increasing endothelial function in SHR rats. However, under these conditions, the decoction did not change the MAP and HR. Therefore, this part of the plant promotes nitric oxide (NO) production by the endothelium, which may promote blood flow to the tissues; thus, its use is justified as adjunct for the treatment of hypertension.   Key words: Serjania erecta Radlk., hypertension, endothelium function, nitric oxide.