S-allyl-mercapto-captopril: a novel compound in the treatment of Cohen-Rosenthal diabetic hypertensive rats.

S-allyl-mercapto-captopril (CPSSA) is a conjugate of captopril with allicin, an active principle in garlic with multiple beneficial actions on metabolic syndrome abnormalities, including weight preservation, observed by the authors in fructose-induced hypertensive hyperinsulinemic rats and in Koletsky rats. The aim of the study was to examine blood pressure (BP) and glucose levels in the Cohen-Rosenthal Diabetic Hypertensive (CRDH) model as well as to follow their weight preservation. CRDH rats (n=14) were fed the sugar-rich copper-free diet essential for the development of diabetes mellitus. Two months later BP and blood glucose levels were measured. CPSSA was diluted in drinking water and administered at a final dose of 53.5 mg/kg/d (n=8). Control rats (n=6) received no drug (vehicle group). In contrast to control group, CPSSA prevented progressive weight gain, without a detectable effect on food and water intake. CPSSA was effective in attenuating systolic and diastolic BP (P<0.01) as well as significantly reducing glucose levels (P<0.01). Control rats continued to gain weight, whereas the groups fed CPSSA did not. CPSSA was shown to have additional beneficial effects on improving BP and glucose level, as well as preserving weight gain. The authors conclude that the combined molecule CPSSA integrates the antihypertensive feature of both allicin and captopril, making it a potential antidiabetic and cardiovascular protective agent. Copyright 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.