Key result
6-protoberberine reduces systolic blood pressure by up to ~42 mm Hg dose-dependently in hypertensive rats.
Why the study?
The antihypertensive effects and mechanisms of the berberine derivative 6-protoberberine (PTB-6) in spontaneously hypertensive rats were studied to evaluate its potential as an antihypertensive agent.
Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid found in plants of the Ranunculaceae and Berberidaceae families. Extracts from berberine-containing plants have been used as traditional Chinese folk remedies for centuries. The antihypertensive effects of the berberine derivative 6-protoberberine (PTB-6) were studied in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In conscious SHRs, PTB-6 lowered the systolic blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner (6-PTB: 5 mg/kg, -31.1 +/- 1.6 mm Hg; 10 mg/kg, -42.4 +/- 3.1 mm Hg). Cardiac output using the thermodilution method was reduced in PTB-6-treated anesthetized SHRs with a tendency to decrease in heart rate. Injection of PTB-6 into the intracerebral ventricles of SHRs lowered the systolic arterial blood pressure and heart rate. The berberine derivative PTB-6 is an effective antihypertensive agent. The mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of PTB-6 is probably through a central sympatholytic effect.
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Liu et al. (1999) studied Hypertension. 6-protoberberine (PTB-6) was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure. In spontaneously hypertensive rats, 6-protoberberine lowered systolic blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner, with a reduction of 31.1 mm Hg at 5 mg/kg and 42.4 mm Hg at 10 mg/kg.
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