Reza Mohebbati - Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Yasamin Kamkar-Del - Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Naser Shafei - Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Hassan Rakhshandeh - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Azita Aaghaei - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

The saffron petalsare a by-product part of the saffron flower with a cardiovascular effect. This study evaluated the effect of the saffron petalon hypertension induced by angiotensin II (AII) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor). Rats were divided into ۱۱ groups: ۱) Control, ۲) AII (۵۰.۰۰ ng kg-۱), ۳) Losartan+ AII, ۴) L-NAME (۱۰.۰۰ mg kg-۱), ۵) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) + L-NAME, ۶, ۷) Saffron petals extract; ۸, ۹) saffron petals (۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg kg-۱) + AII and ۱۰,۱۱) saffron petals (۱۰۰ and ۲۰۰ mg kg-۱) + L-NAME. Hypertension induced by intravenous injection of AII and L-NAME in separate groups. In treated groups, ۳۰ min before injection of AII or L-NAME rats received two doses of extract via intraperitoneal administration. The femoral artery was cannulated and cardiovascular parameters recorded by a transducer connected to power lab apparatus. Maximal changes (∆) of mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) from baseline were calculated and compared to with those in hypertensive and control groups. Results showed that both AII and L-NAME significantly increased SBP and MAP than control, however, HR in AII was decreased and in the L-NAME group increased. Pre-treatment with saffron petals could significantly attenuate the cardiovascular responses induced by both AII and L-NAME. However, the effect of the extract in AII hypertensive rats was more effective than L-NAME groups. The findings showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of the saffron petals had an antihypertensive effect that mainly was mediated by inhibition of AII activity.

Angiotensin II, hypertension, L-NAME, Saffron petal