Hibiscus attenuates renovascular hypertension-induced aortic remodeling dose dependently: the oxidative stress role and Ang II/cyclophilin A/ERK1/2 signaling

Asmaa Mohammed ShamsEldeen; Ahmed Fawzy; Hend Ashour; Marwa Abdel-Rahman; Hend Elsayed Nasr; Lina Abdelhady Mohammed; Noha Samir Abdel Latif; Amr M Mahrous; Shereen Abdelfattah

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1116705

Hibiscus attenuates renovascular hypertension-induced aortic remodeling dose dependently: the oxidative stress role and Ang II/cyclophilin A/ERK1/2 signaling

Front Physiol. 2023 Jun 21:14:1116705. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1116705. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Asmaa Mohammed ShamsEldeen¹, Ahmed Fawzy¹, Hend Ashour^{1

2}, Marwa Abdel-Rahman¹, Hend Elsayed Nasr³, Lina Abdelhady Mohammed³, Noha Samir Abdel Latif⁴, Amr M Mahrous⁵, Shereen Abdelfattah⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
² Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, El Saleheya El Gadida University, Al Sharquia, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Anatomy and Embryology Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: The high levels of angiotensin II (Ang II) can modify the vascular tone, enhance vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and hypertrophy and increase the inflammatory cellular infiltration into the vessel wall. The old herbal nonpharmacological agent, Hibiscus (HS) sabdariffa L has multiple cardioprotective impacts; thus, we investigated the role of HS extract in amelioration of renovascular hypertension (RVH)-induced aortic remodeling. Materials and methods: Thirty-five rats (7/group) were randomly allocated into 5 groups; group: I: Control-sham group, and RVH groups; II, III, IV, and V. The rats in RVH groups were subjected to the modified Goldblatt two-kidneys, one clip (2K1C) for induction of hypertension. In group: II, the rats were left untreated whereas in group III, IV, and V: RVH-rats were treated for 6 weeks with low dose hibiscus (LDH), medium dose hibiscus (MDH), and high dose hibiscus (HDH) respectively. Results: We found that the augmented pro-contractile response of the aortic rings was ameliorated secondary to the in-vivo treatment with HS dose dependently. The cyclophilin A (CyPA) protein levels positively correlated with the vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and ERK1/2, which, in turn, contribute to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Daily HS intake modified aortic renovation by enhancing the antioxidant capacity, restraining hypertrophy and fibrosis, downregulation of the metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript (MALAT1), and cyclophilin A (CyPA)/ERK1/2 levels. Discussion: Adding to the multiple beneficial effects, HS aqueous extract was able to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by 2K1C model. Thus, adding more privilege for the utilization of the traditional herbal extracts to attenuate RVH-induced aortopathy.

Keywords: 2K1C; ERK1/2; MALAT1; aortic response; cyclophilin A; hibiscus.

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the small research group under grant number (RGP.1/45/44).