Pharmacologia2044-46482044-4656Science International10.3923/pharmacologia.2015.371.376BalasuriyaNileeka RupasingheH.P. Vasantha SweeneyMarva McCarronShelby Gottschall-PassKatherine 8201568Background and Objectives: Apple peel is a rich source of biological active phytochemicals such as flavonoids. The present study investigated the antihypertensive effect of flavonoid-rich Apple Peel Extract (APE) on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR). Methodology: Three groups of animals: Control, captopril (20 mg kg1 of body weight/day) and APE (25 mg kg1 of body weight/day) were fed standard rat chow and their corresponding treatment in sugar-free gelatin, daily for a period of eight weeks. Blood Pressure (BP) was monitored weekly using the tail cuff method. Blood and tissue samples were collected after the eighth week. Results: As expected, treatment with captopril consistently reduced BP (p<0.05). APE treatment reduced both systolic and diastolic BP by 15 and 11 mg Hg, respectively, after 5 weeks of treatment, However, statistical significance was only achieved in systolic BP after eight weeks when compared with control (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in serum and lung ACE activity at week eight. Treatment with APE increased liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 78% and total reduced Glutathione (GSH) concentrations by 42% when compared to control (p<0.05) but had no effect on the activity of glutathione reductase or peroxidase. Conclusion: Long term intake of APE reduces high blood pressure in SHR possibly through endogenous antioxidant pathways. This preclinical trial suggests that APE as a dietary supplement could be effective in managing early stages of hypertension.]]>Foex, P. and J.W. Sear,200447175Karanja, N., T.P. Erlinger, L. Pao-Hwa, E.R. Miller and G.A. Bray,200471745753Frisoli, T.M., R.E. Schmieder, T. Grodzicki and F.H. Messerli,20113230813087He, X. and R.H. Liu,20075543664370Balasuriya, N. and H.P.V. Rupasinghe,201213523202325Hackl, L.P., G. Cuttle, S.S. Dovichi, M.T. Lima-Landman and M. Nicolau,200265182186Slemmer, J.E., J.M. Livingston-Thomas, K.T. Gottschall-Pass and M.I. Sweeney,2013in vitro.]]>78H943H947Arabbi, P.R., M.I. Genovese and F.M. Lajolo,20045211241131Wolfe, K.L. and R.H. Liu,20035116761683Huber, G.M. and H.P. Rupasinghe,200974C693C700Suarez, B., A.L. Alvarez, Y.D. Garcia, G. del Barrio, A.P. Lobo and F. Parra,2010in vitro antiviral properties of apple pomace.]]>120339342Keddy, P.G., K. Dunlop, J. Warford, M.L. Samson, Q.R.D. Jones, H.P.V. Rupasinghe and G.S. Robertson,20122012He, X. and R.H. Liu,20085699059910Rupasinghe, H.P.V., L. Wang, G.M. Huber and N.L. Pitts,200810712171224Rupasinghe, H.P.V., N. Erkan and A. Yasmin,20105812331239Santos, M.R., M.J. Rodriguez-Gomez, G.C. Justino, N. Charro, M.H. Florencio and L. Mira,2008in vivo antioxidant activity of quercetin under a low dosage oral regimen in rats.]]>15317501761Rodrigo, R., D. Gil, A. Miranda-Merchak and G. Kalantzidis,201258225254Gasparotto, Jr. A., F.M. Gasparotto, E.L.B. Lourenco, S. Crestani and M.E.A. Stefanello et al.,2011Tropaeolum majus L.: Evidence for the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme.]]>134363372Shindo, M., T. Kasai, A. Abe and Y. Kondo,2007539093Quinones, M., M. Miguel, B. Muguerza and A. Aleixandre,20112649653Ninahuaman, M.F.M.L., C. Souccar, A.J. Lapa and M.T.R. Lima-Landman,2007Cecropia glaziovii Sneth: A comparative study to captopril effects in rats.]]>14321327Wiseman, W., J.M. Egan, J.E. Slemmer, K.S. Shaughnessy, K. Ballem, K.T. Gottschall-Pass and M.I. Sweeney,2011896771Chung, D.H., S.H. Kim, N. Myung, K.J. Cho and M.J. Chang,20126308314D'Archivio, M., C. Filesi, R. Vari, B. Scazzocchio and R. Masella,20101113211342Pandey, K.B. and S.I. Rizvi,20092270278Jearapong, N., W. Chatuphonprasert and K. Jarukamjorn,2013Pueraria mirifica, improves the antioxidation state in the livers and uteri of β-naphthoflavone-treated mice.]]>68173180