| Summary: | 碩士 === 臺北醫學大學 === 保健營養學研究所 === 98 === Hypertension is one of the main factors causing cardiovascular disease. In vitro study has reported that some ACE-inhibitory peptides may be produced by enzymatic digestion of chlorella. In the present study, we investigated the effects of chlorella on blood pressure and cardiorenal remodeling in rats with Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertension. Rats were fed a diet containing L-NAME (40 mg/kg body weight) with or without chlorella (4% or 8%) for 5 weeks. We found that chlorella retarded the development of hypertension and cardiorenal remodeling during the 5-week experimental period. Although there was no difference in MDA, NOx levels and plasma arginine concentrations, plasma and tissues ACE activities were significantly lower in chlorella groups than in the L-NAME group (P < 0.05). Moreover, tissue tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations and renal CYP4A expression were also lower in the chlorella groups (P < 0.05). These results suggest that chlorella might ameliorate the elevation of blood pressure and show cardiorenal-protective effects in nitric oxide (NO)-deficient rats, and one possible mechanism might be mediated via its ACE inhibitory activity.
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