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Research: SCHEFFLER and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 168
Abstract
SCHEFFLER and COLLEAGUES, Klinik fur Herzchirurgie, Herzzentrum Leipzig, Strumpellstr. 39, 04289 Leipzig, Germany. anja.scheffler@medizin.uni-leipzig.de studied the effects of a commercial Olea europaea (olive) leaf extract in hypertension.
Background
In Southern Europe Olea europaea (olive) leafs are known as a folk remedy for hypertension. Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries with hypertension being one of the main risk factors. The authors investigated effects of a commercial Olea europaea leaf extract (OLE) on isolated hearts and cultured cardiomyocytes.
Methodology
Isolated rabbit hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff technique and connected to a 256-channel epicardial mapping system. Voltage clamp experiments were performed in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes using a perforated-patch technique.
Results
OLE caused a concentration-depended decrease in systolic left ventricular pressure and heart rate as well as an increase in relative coronary flow and a slight, but not significant prolongation of PQ-time. There were no significant changes between the groups in the activation-recovery interval and its dispersion, total activation time, peak-to-peak amplitude, percentage of identical breakthrough-points and similar vectors of local activation. Voltage clamp experiments in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes showed a significant decrease in maximum I(Ca,L) by OLE which was reversible upon wash-out.
Conclusion
OLE suppresses the L-type calcium channel directly and reversibly. Our findings might help to understand the traditional use of OLE in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
References
Scheffler A, Rauwald HW, Kampa B, Mann U, Mohr FW and Dhein S. Olea europaea leaf extract exerts L-type Ca(2+) channel antagonistic effects. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 120 (2): 233-40. Nov 20 2008.
