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Planta Med
DOI: 10.1055/a-2686-6580
Original Papers

Involvement of the NO-cGMP-K Channels Pathway in Cardioprotective Effects of Baccharis milleflora in Hypertensive Rats

Authors

  • Lislaine Maria Klider

    1   Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology (UFPR), Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil
    4   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil

  • Aline Aparecida Macedo Marques

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Karyne Garcia Tafarelo Moreno

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Gabriela Pereira da Silva

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Luana Ale Bertoncello

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Luciane Barbosa Pessoa

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Ariany Carvalho dos Santos

    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

  • Katyuce de Souza Farias

    3   Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry (LaPNEM), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition (FACFAN), Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

  • Caroline de Moura Costa

    3   Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry (LaPNEM), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition (FACFAN), Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

  • Denise Brentan Silva 

    3   Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry (LaPNEM), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition (FACFAN), Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

  • Jane Manfron

    4   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil

  • Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior 

    1   Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology (UFPR), Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
    2   Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (LaFaC), Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil

Financial support was provided by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).
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Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Complementary therapies, such as medicinal plants, have become increasingly common among treatment options. We propose to investigate the cardioprotective effects of the ethanol-soluble fraction obtained from the aerial parts of Baccharis milleflora in hypertensive rats. Cladodes of B. milleflora were collected, and the aqueous extract was obtained by infusion. The infusion was then treated with ethanol, resulting in the ethanol-soluble fraction of B. milleflora, which was analyzed by LC-DAD-MS. The MS and MS/MS data obtained from the ethanol-soluble fraction of B. milleflora was submitted to the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking platform to generate the molecular network, and three main clusters were detected. Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats were divided into different experimental groups, including naïve, control (vehicle), hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg), and ethanol-soluble fraction of B. milleflora (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg). The treatment lasted for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, the animals underwent evaluation of renal function, electrocardiographic profile, blood pressure, mesenteric vascular reactivity, serum biochemical parameters, and histopathological analysis. The molecular pathways involved in pharmacological activity were also investigated. After 28 days, animals treated with ethanol-soluble fraction of B. milleflora 30 mg/kg showed a significant antioxidant, diuretic, and antihypertensive response, as well as reversed endothelial dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy induced by hypertension. Treatment with a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor, cGMP inhibitor, or non-selective K+ channel blocker suppressed the antihypertensive effects of ethanol-soluble fraction of B. milleflora. Our findings showed that B. milleflora is a species with cardioprotective activity when administered for a prolonged period to hypertensive rats.

Keywords

antihypertensive - antioxidant - Asteraceae - Baccharis milleflora - herbal medicine


Publication History

Received: 18 July 2024

Accepted after revision: 14 August 2025

Article published online:
29 October 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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