Resumo

ARROYO, Jorge, RAEZ, Ernesto, RODRIGUEZ, Miguel et al. Actividad antihipertensiva y antioxidante del extracto hidroalcohólico atomizado de Maíz morado (Zea mays L) en ratas. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica, abr./jun. 2008, vol.25, no.2, p.195-199. ISSN 1726-4634.

Objectives. To determine the antihypertensive and antioxidant activity of the atomized hydroalcoholic extract of Zea mays L. (Andean purple corn) in rats with induced hypertension. Material and methods. We used five groups of six Holtzmann rats each, one without hypertension (negative control) and four with hypertension induced by L-NAME: positive control and three groups for the doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively. The treatment was carried out orally once a day for 25 days. The measurements of mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were conducted leaving a day, it was considered on 18 and 25 started treatments for the study. We measured the levels of malondialdehyde (mmol/L) for determining the antioxidant activity in serum. Results. By day 18 were observed increased levels of blood pressure in both groups. The reduction in blood pressure was dose-dependent, having a greater effect with 1000 mg/kg, resulting in an average decrease of 20.1% of the PAM (p<0.01), 20.7% of the SBP (p<0.01) and 15.7% of DBP (p<0.01) under the positive control group on day 25. There was a 53.3% reduction in the levels of malondialdehyde only in doses of 500 mg/kg. Conclusions. In the experimental conditions, were demonstrated the antihypertensive and antioxidant activity of the atomized hydroalcoholic extract of Zea mays L.

Palavras-chave: Ethnopharmacology; Medicinal plants; Antihypertensive agents; Antioxidants; Functional foods.