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Clitoria ternatia L. (CT) has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study investigated the effect of CT aqueous flower extract on blood pressure and renal alterations in N ω -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats received l-NAME in drinking water and were treated with CT flower extract or lisinopril. CT aqueous flower extract and lisinopril alleviated l-NAME-induced hypertension (p < 0.05). Glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation, renal fibrosis, and increased serum creatinine levels were observed in l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats and attenuated by CT flower extract or lisinopril co-treatment (p < 0.05). High levels of plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) and upregulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (Nox4) protein expression in the kidneys induced by l-NAME were alleviated by CT flower extract or lisinopril co-treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CT flower extract and lisinopril treatment reduced lipid peroxidation and elevated plasma and kidney malondialdehyde levels in l-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CT flower extract prevented l-NAME-induced renal injury and dysfunction in rats. The possible mechanism may be related to the suppression of Ang II-mediated Nox4 expression and the oxidative stress cascade in rats., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Carthamus tinctorius L. (CT) is widely used in Asian countries as a beverage and in folk medicine. The effects of CT extract on hemodynamics, vascular remodeling, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and oxidative stress in the two-kidney, one clip (2K-1C) hypertensive rat model were investigated. Renovascular hypertension was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats and were treated with CT extract (500mg/kg/day) or captopril (5mg/kg/day) or vehicle for four weeks. CT extract or captopril reduced blood pressure, hindlimb vascular resistance, and increased hindlimb blood flow in 2K-1C hypertensive rats (p<0.05). Increases in aortic wall thickness, cross-sectional area and collagen deposition in 2K-1C rats were alleviated with CT extract or captopril treatment (p<0.05). CT extract or captopril suppressed RAS activation, including elevated serum ACE activity, and plasma Ang II level and up-regulated aortic AT 1 R protein expression in 2K-1C rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, CT extract or captopril reduced vascular superoxide production, aortic NADPH oxidase subunit gp91 phox expression and increased plasma nitric oxide metabolite levels in 2K-1C rats (p<0.05). These findings suggest that CT extract ameliorated hemodynamic alteration and vascular remodeling in 2K-1C hypertensive rats. Possible mechanisms may involve RAS inhibitor effects and potent antioxidant activity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)