Antihypertensive effects of Lactobacillus-fermented milk orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 May 11;59(9):4537-43. doi: 10.1021/jf104985v. Epub 2011 Apr 4.

Abstract

Products fermented with lactic acid bacteria may show antihypertensive effects via substances such as angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It was previously found that milk fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (101FM) or Lactobacillus plantarum NTU 102 (102FM) has ACEI and GABA activities. This study aimed to investigate the antihypertensive effects of 101FM and 102FM orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Eight hours after a single oral administration or after 8 weeks of weekly (chronic) administration, 101FM and 102FM significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the SHRs. Microscopic examination of aortic tissue demonstrated that 101FM and 102FM reduced the disorganization of the media layer. These findings suggest that orally administered 101FM and 102FM have antihypertensive effects, possibly via ACEI and GABA activity, in SHRs. Therefore, 101FM and 102FM may be useful ingredients in physiologically functional foods to prevent hypertension.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antihypertensive Agents / metabolism
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Cultured Milk Products / chemistry
  • Cultured Milk Products / microbiology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fermentation
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Lactobacillus / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / administration & dosage*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid