Abstract:

40 rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10) as control group, spontaneous hypertension rat (SHR) group, low dose dietary fiber-treated group (5%), and high dose dietary fiber-treated group (10%). After 8 weeks of treatment, the endotheliumdependent vasorelaxation in isolated aortic rings, systolic pressure of tail artery and content of plasma nitric oxide (NO) were determined. The protein expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) was measured by using Western blot. It was found that Undaria pinnatifida dietary fiber treatment can significantly decrease systolic pressure of tail artery, and improve endothelial function accompanied with plasma NO level increasing via the unregulation of expression of eNOS protein. All theses indicates that Undaria pinnatifida soluble dietary fiber in SHR rats could decrease blood pressure. The improvement of endothelial function by increasing NO production may cause this result.

Key words: Undaria pinnatifida, dietary fiber, nitric oxide, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, rat