Vasorelaxation and antihypertensive activity of standardized extract of Gymnema sylvestre in rodent model.

Gymnema sylvestre (GS) leaf extract is one of the most important functional food indicated for management of diabetes, obesity and associated disorders and is also indicated in Ayurveda for heart diseases. Although the plant is currently under intense exploration for its therapeutic potential in cardiometabolic diseases but efficacy against hypertension and in inducing vasorelaxation in vasculature was never well explored. The present study envisaged vasorelaxation and antihypertensive activity of biomarkers enriched extract (Gym-cit) in rodent model. When given at 30 mg kg-1, 100 mg kg-1 and 300 mg kg-1 once orally for 14-days, Gym-cit significantly decreased the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure in SHR. GS biomarkers like Gymnemagenin (GMN), Deacyl gymnemic acid (DAC), Gymnemic acid IV (GA IV) and standardized extract exhibited concentration dependent vasorelaxation in ex-vivo model in mesenteric artery. Gymnemagenin (GMN) exhibited maximum vasorelaxation potential (Emax; 59.44 ± 1.88; n = 6), putatively through opening of BKCa channel and blocking of L-type voltage dependent calcium channel in vascular smooth muscle. Gym-cit showed decent vasorelaxation response and significant antihypertensive activity in SHRs with significant decrease in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure. The study suggests great promise in Gym-cit against cardiometabolic diseases associated with hypertension.