Effect of veratric acid on the cardiovascular risk of L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

Hypertension is associated with dyslipidemia, which is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of veratric acid (VA) on blood pressure, plasma, and tissue lipid profile in N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced in adult male albino rats of Wistar strain, weighing 180-220 g, by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg) in drinking water for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with VA (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. L-NAME-treated rats showed significant increase in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. A significant increase in the concentrations of plasma, tissue (liver and kidney) lipids, and lipoproteins and a significant decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were noticed in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. The activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase increased significantly in the liver and kidney, whereas the activities of lipoprotein lipase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase were decreased significantly in the plasma of hypertensive rats. Histopathology of liver and kidney and in vitro study also confirmed the biochemical findings of this study. Thus, oral administration of VA reduced hyperlipidemia related to the risk of hypertension.